JUDY WOODRUFF: As the U.S. COVID-19 death toll topped 291,000, a panel of outside advisers to
the Food and Drug Administration late today has endorsed the emergency use
of a Pfizer vaccine to save lives for those who are 16 years old or older.
It's highly anticipated FDA approval would mean the biggest vaccination campaign
in U.S. history could get under way in a matter of days.
Amna Nawaz has the latest.
AMNA NAWAZ: A pivotal step to clear one of the last hurdles before the
U.S. approves its first COVID-19 vaccine.
DR. DORAN FINK, Deputy Director, FDA Division of Vaccines: The American public demand and deserve
a rigorous, comprehensive and independent review of the data.
AMNA NAWAZ: In a day-long virtual meeting, an advisory panel to the Food
and Drug Administration voted to recommend Pfizer's candidate for emergency approval.
An FDA review already found it to be 95 percent effective.
DR. DORAN FINK: Based on the totality of scientific evidence available,
do the benefits of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine outweigh its risks?
AMNA NAWAZ: Today's public debate on its safety with outside science and health
experts was meant to build confidence in the process, discussing issues like whether
trial participants who received a placebo should be offered the vaccine once approved.
DR. STEVEN GOODMAN, Stanford University: Some participants at higher risk
will want the vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them.
AMNA NAWAZ: And potential new risks will of the vaccine,
like a few cases of allergic reaction reported in Britain.
DR. PAUL OFFIT, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: There are tens of millions
of people in this country who carry EpiPens with them because they have peanut allergies,
because they have egg allergies, who are going to believe now
that they can't get this vaccine. That's a lot of people.
AMNA NAWAZ: A majority of Americans already stand behind it. A "PBS NewsHour"/NPR/Marist poll found
61 percent said they would get vaccinated. That's up from 49 percent in September.
Still, this morning, FDA Commissioner
Dr. Stephen Hahn tried to appeal to Americans with remaining skepticism.
DR. STEPHEN HAHN, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration: We need to vaccinate enough
people to get herd immunity. I have 100 percent confidence, and I think the American public
should as well, with respect to our review of the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.
AMNA NAWAZ: Federal regulators could authorize a vaccine for distribution as early as Friday,
clearing the way for an unprecedented inoculation process.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar:
ALEX AZAR, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary: Product would ship
within 24 hours. But here's the important thing. Twenty million Americans could be vaccinated
just before the end of this month, in December.
A total of 50 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of January.
AMNA NAWAZ: Welcome news in states like Virginia,
where Governor Ralph Northam today imposed new restrictions.
GOV. RALPH NORTHAM (D-VA): Case numbers have been rising for weeks. They're now at record high
levels. They're higher now than they ever have been during this entire pandemic.
AMNA NAWAZ: The U.S. reported a new high of 3,000 deaths in the last 24 hours alone,
and hospitalizations reached a record 106,000. Overwhelmed front-line health
care workers are hoping the vaccine will alleviate some of that pressure.
DR. WARREN GAVIN, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital: Personally,
I cannot roll up my sleeve fast enough to get this vaccination.
AMNA NAWAZ: But Dr. Camara Jones, a physician,
epidemiologist, and past president of the American Public Health Association,
warns, the vaccine should not replace basic steps, like masking, distancing, and handwashing.
DR. CAMARA PHYLLIS JONES, Former President, American Public Health Association: It's
a very good thing, but it's not going to be the answer even in six months. So, right now,
I am planning to keep my mask on for another year, through December of 2021 at least.
AMNA NAWAZ: For another year, that's your plan.
DR. CAMARA PHYLLIS JONES: Right now, what we have to do is mostly the public health
stuff. That's the stuff that we have been able to do all along, but we did not fully implement.
AMNA NAWAZ: All this amid new concerns about political pressure on the CDC.
Congressman Jim Clyburn today said a CDC employee raised concerns about efforts by
the Trump administration to destroy evidence of interference in the pandemic response.