NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For weeks, health experts have been saying we're getting closer to a COVID-19 vaccine that's good to go, and on Thursday, it could get the green light.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) feels confident about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but they need that stamp of approval from a vaccine advisory panel that includes Meharry Medical College President and CEO Dr. James Hildreth.
The FDA is meeting with the panel that includes more than a dozen vaccine and infectious disease experts. The major topic of discussion: is the vaccine safe to distribute right now?
Officials from the FDA feel the criteria has been met, but they will discuss other issues, such as safety and leaving children off the list for the time being.
Regardless of a decision, Dr. Hildreth is proud of how far scientists have come.
“It is likely by the end of this year, tens of thousands across the country will be administered a COVID 19 vaccine. You need to understand how remarkable this is and will go down probably as a triumph of big science, that developed a vaccine within 10 months,” said Dr. Hildreth.
Canada and the United Kingdom have already approved the vaccine for distribution.
