Listen: Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine: the debate, details, and distribution

Are Covid-19 vaccines safe for teens? Is the U.S. taking too long to authorize one? And how do you prepare for an FDA grilling?

We discuss all that and more on this week’s episode of “The Readout LOUD,” STAT’s biotech podcast. In light of a historic vote in favor of Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine, we’re devoting this entire episode to the underlying data, the opinions of FDA advisers, and the plans for distributing it around the country. First, STAT’s Matthew Herper joins us to break down Thursday’s FDA advisory committee meeting and what it means for the future of Pfizer’s vaccine. Then, Scripps Research cardiologist and avid Covid-19 commentator Eric Topol joins us to offer his take on the proceedings. Finally, Bill Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of vaccine clinical research, calls in to answer our questions about what comes next.

For more on what we cover, here’s the news from Thursday, and here’s our complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

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