Joe Biden Presidency thread *Please read OP - Threadbanned Users Added 4/5/21*

Q   And then a follow-up on COVID: We’re hearing from health experts who are increasingly voicing their concern for the FDA having yet to grant full approval to COVID vaccines. Folks are using phrases like “grave mistake,” “puzzling as to why they haven’t yet.” What is your understanding as to why we have not seen full approval yet from the FDA? And do you have any, kind of, expectation for when we might?

MS. PSAKI: Well, the FDA is the gold standard, in our view, and they move at the speed of science. They look at a range of data and they make sure that when they make conclusions and when they give full approval, they have confidence in the science and the data that backs that up. It wouldn’t be responsible to expedite that process at a faster speed than the science and data allows.

Certainly, everyone is eager — as the mother of two children under 12 myself, I would love to have vaccines approved so I can get my kids vaccinated. We understand that completely and understand the desire to have full approval, of course, as well. 

We’re hopeful to see that in the coming months as Sec- — as — I was going to call him “Secretary Fauci” — as Dr. Fauci has said. But again, we rely on them to determine their own timeline.

Q   “Coming months” are — does the White House believe that we could be losing valuable time in waiting for full approval if this is what’s keeping so many folks from getting

vaccinated at this point?

MS. PSAKI: Well, again, I think what’s most important is that the FDA maintains itself as the gold standard in approving use of vaccines for approval. And the fact that they are always going to be driven by the speed of science, they’re going to have extensive data they look into, they’re going to have the best health and medical experts making that conclusion, that will maintain confidence over the long term. 

Of course, we all want to see vaccines fully approved, vaccines for kids under 12. I think every — most Americans would say that. But that we’re going to — it’s important they move at their own speed and the speed at the scientists.