I'm happy that HHS says distribution of the Covid vaccine can begin almost immediately after the FDA Advisory Committee meets on December 10 and gives its approval. But, as many others have asked, why the hell do they need to wait till Dec. 10?
In case the FDA hasn't noticed, over 1000 people are dying every day! The sooner we begin distribution, the more lives can be saved.
Is there some other, more urgently needed product that needs to be considered first? Perhaps a new cough drop or lozenge? Do the Committee members have important vacation plans they don't want to change? Surely the Covid vaccine takes priority over anything else they might be doing.
If the issue is they need more time to process the data, how about hiring some extra data analysts to do it faster?
Some have noted that there may be concerns about the law requiring 10 days notice before a public meeting of certain federal agencies. But others have pointed out that the 10 day waiting period can be waived for an "emergency."
The bottom line is that this case easily meets the criteria for an exception. You don't have to be a great legal theorist to realize that the Covid situation counts as an emergency.
As I have said before, I am happy and grateful that scientists have developed effective vaccines so quickly. But this is one of several maddening delays that I find it hard to contain my anger about. An even worse one was the failure to conduct "challenge trials," which could have greatly shortened the trial period for the vaccines.
Please get a move-on, FDA! It's literally a matter of life and death.