Health Affairs August 18, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted society, with necessary social distancing measures to reduce the risk of transmission resulting in the closure of businesses, schools, and other aspects of daily life. To help protect individuals from infection and support a return to normal, the United States government is focused on supporting the development of a vaccine for COVID-19. However, vaccine development, even under normal circumstances, is an arduous endeavor.
Given that recent polling indicates evidence of vaccine hesitancy among Americans for COVID-19, it is also necessary for public health officials to offer reassurance that any potential vaccine will be safe and effective. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken two key steps on this matter. First, the agency...