{"id":70055,"date":"2020-12-11T01:27:39","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T01:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=70055"},"modified":"2020-12-11T01:27:39","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T01:27:39","slug":"pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-start-days-key-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefastfashion.com\/?p=70055","title":{"rendered":"Pfizer\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine rollout could start in days after key vote"},"content":{"rendered":"

A government advisory panel on Thursday backed the use of Pfizer\u2019s COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for the Food and Drug Administration to grant the vax the final green light.<\/p>\n

In a\u00a017-4 vote with one abstention, the committee of health experts concluded that the shot appears safe and effective for emergency\u00a0use in people 16 and older.\u00a0This means the inoculation\u00a0will likely become the first approved in the U.S. to beat the virus that\u2019s killed nearly 300,000 Americans.<\/p>\n

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The FDA is expected to follow the recommendation\u00a0from its expert advisers. Depending on how fast the agency signs off, shots could begin within days for some health care workers and nursing home residents.<\/p>\n

The thumbs up came despite questions from several members about whether 16 and 17 year olds should be included in the recommendation, since risk to those age groups are low and there wasn\u2019t much data about them in the vaccine trial.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the panel voted on the question put forth by the FDA, which included 16 and 17 years old.\u00a0\u00a0Pfizer\u00a0has asked for emergency\u00a0use authorization for its two-dose vaccine in people aged 16 to 85.<\/p>\n

The vote followed a\u00a0daylong hearing\u00a0from the FDA\u2019s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee including a public comment portion involving other health officials and vaccine advocates.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe American public demands and deserves a rigorous, comprehensive and independent review of the data,\u201d said the FDA\u2019s Dr. Doran Fink.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cWe expect a high bar for efficacy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Among the topics discussed was\u00a0a warning from British health officials\u00a0that individuals with \u201csignificant\u201d allergic reactions may not be able to get vaccinated.<\/p>\n

Two people who received the COVID-19 shot in the UK on Tuesday\u00a0suffered severe allergic reactions to it.<\/p>\n

However, Pfizer\u00a0reps told the panel that, while they\u2019re aware of the British reports, they haven\u2019t seen any signs of allergic reactions in their trial of the vaccine.<\/p>\n

One commenter, Evan Fein, said he was a Phase 1 trial participant and rallied for the panel to approve the drug.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I got a real vaccine and not a placebo,\u201d he said, adding that he experienced fever, chills and pain in the injection site but no long-term effects.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was called repeatedly by doctors and researchers to see if I was OK. And I was. Nothing felt rushed and I never felt like a guinea pig.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adv<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n