How the FDA's emergency use authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine is different from approval
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
That's different from the vaccine being approved or licensed by the FDA.
Here's how.
The emergency use authorization acknowledges that in a time of dire need, the vaccine meets certain requirements to justify its use during the COVID-19 pandemic, including that there are no other adequate, approved or available alternatives.
To determine whether to issue an EUA for a product, "the FDA evaluates the available evidence and assesses any known or potential risks and any known or potential benefits, and if the benefit-risk assessment is favorable, the product is made available during the emergency."
For FDA approval, more data will be required from clinical trials.
On Feb. 4, the Department of Health and Human Services determined it was reasonable to allow for the authorization of unapproved products because of the widespread public health risk of COVID-19.
The FDA says it expects any company whose vaccines are granted an EUA to continue clinical trials to gather more safety and effectiveness information and seek FDA approval or licensure.