I think this is part of the overall issue with the handling of this pandemic. No one wants to take responsibility.
The FDA's job is not to decide which lives are more valuable than others, or what our society's risk tolerance is. Their job is to keep people safe and to present the data and the options to political leaders.
The FDA clearly has a goal of not tarnishing their reputation. If they make the wrong decision here, then they lose credibility with approvals for future drugs that come out to treat Alzheimer's or diabetes or whatever else.
Ultimately, I think we look to our scientists to make many decisions that aren't really their place to decide. A scientist can tell me that vaccine X is this effective based on their data. Or even that they have a hunch that treatment X will do Y. But ultimately, I think it's on our elected leaders' shoulders to hear the scientists out about what the various risks are and then make a decision. Unfortunately, I don't have faith that our current elected leaders can adequately listen to our scientists counsel and then make wise decisions accordingly.
The FDA's job is not to decide which lives are more valuable than others, or what our society's risk tolerance is. Their job is to keep people safe and to present the data and the options to political leaders.
The FDA clearly has a goal of not tarnishing their reputation. If they make the wrong decision here, then they lose credibility with approvals for future drugs that come out to treat Alzheimer's or diabetes or whatever else.
Ultimately, I think we look to our scientists to make many decisions that aren't really their place to decide. A scientist can tell me that vaccine X is this effective based on their data. Or even that they have a hunch that treatment X will do Y. But ultimately, I think it's on our elected leaders' shoulders to hear the scientists out about what the various risks are and then make a decision. Unfortunately, I don't have faith that our current elected leaders can adequately listen to our scientists counsel and then make wise decisions accordingly.