How Does the FDA Evaluate Vaccines?

The world returning to “normal” after COVID-19 will depend, in large part, on mass vaccinations. Dr. Henry Miller explains the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) process for considering and approving vaccines for emergency use. Even after approval, the FDA regulates the labeling of the vaccine – who it is approved for and how it can be used. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) then makes recommendations to local entities about how to prioritize the population for vaccine distribution.

Dr. Henry Miller is a Senior Fellow at the Pacific Research Institute. He was the founding director of the Office of Biotechnology at the FDA.