FDA Holds News Conference on Authorization of Pfizer Vaccine

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn held a news conference to announce the emergency use authorization of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The commissioner said the FDA had moved quickly to review the data, while ensuring the integrity of the scientific process. “I will absolutely take this COVID-19 vaccine, pending availability and distribution, because I had complete trust and confidence in the FDA’s career staff’s evaluation,” he said. FDA Biologics Director Dr. Peter Marks also joined the commissioner to answer reporters' questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for particular groups, including children, people with severe allergies, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. In response to a reporter’s question, Dr. Hahn said the representations in the press that he was threatened to be fired by the White House if the vaccine authorization did not come by a certain date were inaccurate. close