FDA Approval May or May Not Affect Unvaccinated Numbers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced the agency was moving as quickly as possible to fully approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine but gave no timeline.
The agency has approved three emergency-use vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Some doctors believe a full FDA approval will help the public’s vaccine hesitancy, but other health officials don’t believe it will.
Today’s pandemic is unlike in another, and it’s not known when the FDA will fully approve a vaccine, but the hope is that a fully approved vaccine will increase vaccine numbers.
University of Washington Medicine Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Dr. Ali Mokdad said a “green light” for Pfizer would help convince many unvaccinated to get vaccinated. He said many patients had questioned him about why there isn’t a full approval if he was so confident in it. Mokdad said a full approval would generate confidence in an already safe and effective vaccine.
Vaccine hesitant hospital interpreter Avila De La Cruz doesn’t see vaccine approval changing her mind. She said she doesn’t see how it’s helping to stay safe. Avila De La Cruz said she couldn’t trust the science behind the vaccine.
Some health officials agree with her, saying it’s unlikely a full FDA approval will help boost the numbers.
For instance, Dr. Chris Spitters, health officer at the Snohomish Health District, said he doesn’t feel the FDA’s vaccine approval will help on the individual level. He said vaccine-hesitant people are concerned with safety, and the approval may sway some, the numbers would be slim.
Spitters said a vaccine approval makes it easier for companies and government entities to enforce mandates.
According to the data, it’s unlikely to convince those who definitely do no plan to get the shot to actually get the shot.
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