FDA Panel Wants to Deny Adults the Right to Decide How Much COVID Protection They Want

Jeffrey A. SingerThe Food and Drug Administration ’s scientific advisory panel recommendedagainst approving Pfizer/ ​BioNTech booster vaccinations for the general population aged 16 and above. The boosters are currently only approved for immunocompromised individuals and patients in nursing homes—patients who are more vulnerable than the general population to get breakthrough infections that result in hospita lization or death.Concluding that the vaccines offer the general adult population robust protection against severe disease that can possibly result in hospitalization or death, the committee decided the protection provided by the two ‐​dose mRNA vaccine regimen is good enough for them.The decision was not unanimous. For example, one panel member, Dr. Peter Marks, urged the committee to consider the spread of the disease, not just the severity of the illness.As Michael F. Cannon and I have writtenhere, the FDA often tramples on the fundamental right to self ‐​medicate, and it looks as if it is about to do it again. I stated in an interview onThe National Desk this morning that the FDA should stick to the question of whether a booster is safe and effective. The decision as to how much protection is good enough protection should be left up to patients, who are encouraged to consult with their health care providers.Many people may be comfortable knowing that the vaccination protects them against severe illness and are willing to take their chance...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs