My TakeFor China’s coronavirus vaccines, public trust is in the detailed data
- The US drug regulator has broadcast advisory committee hearings live and put questions directly to pharmaceutical executives
- China and the WHO could take a page out of this playbook
The FDA released detailed documents about the vaccines before the discussions and broadcast the meetings live to shore up public confidence in the applications.
Many details were disclosed in the process, including that some clinical trial participants developed a temporary form of facial paralysis called Bell’s palsy. Scientists said the paralysis was unlikely a result of the vaccines but the cases prompted the FDA to call for further monitoring.
Moderna’s executives were also questioned about the possibility of their vaccine inducing the severe allergic reactions a nurse suffered after taking a Pfizer shot.
The exercise is not enough to answer all questions or satisfy everyone, but it helped to manage public expectations and assure people that the regulator was being careful.