Vaccines for the coronavirus are being rolled out much faster than usual, but don't worry. That's according to Doctor Louis Katz, Medical Director of the Scott County Health Department. He says the process is careful but streamlined compared to past drug approvals.
He calls it a "public health emergency" that during the last nine months, more than 250,000 people have died in the US due to COVID-19.
"Have more deaths in the United States than all of the military conflicts that we've been involved in since I was born in 1950. So I think we're justified in moving towards emergency use authorization as opposed to full approval."
Katz knows some of the people involved personally, and says the review panels are independent of any federal agencies, such as the FDA and Department of Health and Human Services.
"In fact the only political appointee in any way, shape, or form involved in decisions about this vaccine is the FDA commissioner. But the professionals at the agency, the Center for Biologic Evaluation and Response, are all career m.d.-scientists."
And he promises to get vaccinated on the first day he can.
But it may be months before many of can get vaccinated, so he says until then, continue to wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing.
