The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to implement stricter vaccine approval guidelines after a memo claimed at least 10 children died “after and because of” receiving a COVID-19 shot.
The guidelines, obtained by The New York Times, could also impact vaccinations for other illnesses and viruses, including the FDA’s standards for annual flu shots and if Americans should receive multiple vaccines at a time. The memo also states that shots for pregnant women could be limited, and manufacturers will be required to conduct larger studies before seeking approval for vaccines.
Vinay Prasad, a top vaccine regulator at FDA, said pneumonia vaccine manufacturers must show that their treatments reduce the infection instead of merely developing antibodies to fight it. The new restrictions would also require drug manufacturers to run larger studies that would slow the process of developing vaccines, according to The Washington Post, which also reviewed the memo.
Hellbound and Down 