For emergency authorization, the FDA required two months of safety data versus six months for full approval, he explains. Getting full FDA approval for a vaccine is a time consuming process that can take up to 10 months under normal circumstances. “The FDA recognizes that vaccines are key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic and is working as quickly as possible to review applications for full approval,” an FDA official said in a statement. Full FDA approval means the drug can be used at any time for as long as it is approved. Once a vaccine is fully approved, the FDA will no longer grant new emergency use authorizations for similar products.

Source: Forbes July 30, 2021 21:44 UTC