Sen. Johnson to Federal Health Agencies: Expediting Approval Process Appears to Serve the Political Purpose of Imposing and Enforcing Vaccine Mandates

"I see no need to rush the FDA approval process for any of the three Covid-19 vaccines," the senator wrote.

"Expediting the process appears to only serve the political purpose of imposing and enforcing vaccine mandates. The observational phases of FDA approval take time, because there is no substitute for time in detecting and determining possible long-term harm. Additionally, we are already experiencing a severe health care worker shortage. Frontline doctors and nurses that are contacting me are expressing grave concerns about vaccine mandates which will only exacerbate the shortage."

As you are well aware, I first raised the issue of vaccine safety signals coming from FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System in a meeting with National Institutes of Health Director Collins on April 27, 2021.

A petition signed by 31 medical professionals and submitted to the FDA argues there is no need to short circuit the full approval process, including public safety forums, since the EUA is making the vaccines available to anyone 12 years or older choosing to be vaccinated.

I see no need to rush the FDA approval process for any of the three Covid-19 vaccines.

Expediting the process appears to only serve the political purpose of imposing and enforcing vaccine mandates.

Gareth Iacobucci, Covid-19: FDA set to grant full approval to Pfizer vaccine without public discussion of data, The full text of the letter can be found here and below. 

https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2021/8/sen-johnson-to-federal-health-agencies-expediting-approval-process-appears-to-serve-the-political-purpose-of-imposing-and-enforcing-vaccine-mandates