COVID-19 Vaccine Developers to Pledge Not to Sacrifice Safety for Speed

By Dana Cruz First Posted: Sep 06, 2020 11:38 PM EDT

COVID-19 vaccine developers plan to issue a joint pledge of safety, an unusual move among pharmaceutical rivals.

Florida Volunteers Take Part In COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

(Photo : Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Leyda Valentine, an assistant coordinator, takes blood from Lisa Taylor as she participates in a COVID-19 vaccination study at Research Centers of America on August 07, 2020 in Hollywood, Florida.

In a draft of the pledge, the COVID-19 vaccine developers said they would not seek government approval until the shots are proven safe and effective.

The pledge of safety, which is still being finalized, comes as all COVID-19 vaccine developers address concerns over a rush to mass vaccinations.

Companies taking part in the pledge are Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna Inc.

A CNBC report confirmed that Sanofi would also take part in the pledge that commits the companies to the safety and well-being of vaccinated people.

A report from The Wall Street Journal noted that the firms would also pledge to adhere to high scientific and ethical standards during the course of the studies.

Sources said the companies might issue the final copy of the pledge as soon as early next week.

COVID-19 Vaccine Developers Says There's No Rush

The upcoming pledge statement will be one of the many assurances to the public from industry executives. With the need to have a COVID-19 vaccine soon, many are worried that rapid testing and making vaccines are being sacrificed.

In the U.S. alone, many are doubtful of the manufacturing process and hesitant to take a vaccine. In large part, the hesitance is due to concerns that the vaccine and its potential authorizations are getting too rushed.

Some are even concerned that the public health sector is being pressured to have a vaccine ready before Election Day.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnancy assured the public Thursday that the White House will not "in any way" sacrifice the safety of the vaccine, the Business Insider reported.

Most experts said there's a very slim chance that a COVID-19 vaccine will be ready by the end of the year.

Vaccines usually take years to be developed. But COVID-19 shots are moving ahead fast. In fact, some companies are already in the last few stages of development.

"We will not cut corners," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a Fox News report.

Pfizer is also in the late stages of its study. It started at the end of July and had already enrolled around 23,000 people.

Bourla said he expects to find out if the vaccine works by the end of October. This is also a very fast timeline.

The joint pledge claimed that it would "help ensure public confidence in the Covid-19 vaccines." It added that an emergency use approval would only be asked from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if a vaccine's phase three clinical trial had "substantial evidence."

But FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said this stage could be cut short if a vaccine yields quick and strong evidence.

Public health specialists are also concerned with the FDA emergency authorization as the agency had previously yielded to pressure.

Last March, the FDA issued this authorization to President Donald Trump-backed anti-malarial drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine.

Later on, it took back its approval in June because of evidence showing that the drugs cause a higher risk of death for COVID-19 patients.

Three companies have already tested their vaccine candidates in phase three trials: Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca.

It is not yet clear if AstraZeneca will be part of the joint pledge. But it did release a statement, saying they will "follow the science" and "put patients first."