Response from IDSA President Barbara Alexander MD, MHS, FIDSA to FDA EUA of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: FDA Authorization Is First of Critical Steps Ahead

 

“The first Emergency Use Authorization of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus in the United States offers a promising opportunity to reverse the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dedicated and intensive biomedical research has been critical to making this pivotal moment a reality.  This first step represents an amazing, collaborative accomplishment and is to be celebrated. It should not be politicized, and it is important to recognize it as a first step. Comments from the FDA’s independent advisory committee members highlight the importance of continuing to collect data and of ongoing study of this vaccine across populations. Guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on allocation and administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be critical to ensuring fairness, efficiency and trust in the process to follow. Plans for the vaccine’s distribution must be open and consistent with the public health needs of communities across the nation awaiting this vaccine. Significant increases in funding to ensure equitable allocation and administration as well as education to build vaccine confidence will be essential to seizing this moment.”