Thread by @benbawan

So the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine will probably be approved by the EMA on December 23. We know that because we know it'll be approved. But we still wait a week for actual approval because - yeah, why, actually?

It's odd, at the very least. If the EMA experts agree that the vaccine merits approval, just go ahead and approve it. If there's bureaucracy involved that make it longer, well, reform it then. It's profoundly weird to wait for an approval that we know is coming, just because.

I know being quite harsh here, but we need to question these processes. In an emergency situation, the approval should take exactly as long as it takes for the experts to assess the safety of the vaccine and all that comes with it. That's it.

It is on the face of it unconsciable and illogical to *know* that approval is certain and still wait a week or more for it. Either we know and the thing is settled or we don't. In the first case, approve it right now. In the second, well, settle it and approve it then.

That's why alwI ays found it odd that there's a certain of probable approval weeks away. Who can know with any certainty if by then everything will be proved to general satisfaction? How do we know it's not clear earlier? Or later?

I completely understand that deadlines and phases to examine the data, form an opinion, ask questions, set up a comprehensive plan and requirements make sense. And in a normal situation there's no need to shorten them.

But in a pandemic emergency situation, there needs to be a way to say “this is the last possible date to submit x, y, z, but if we get all opinions earlier, we'll decide earlier.” and I don't have the feeling the EMA has really down that enough.

They seem to have been driven by this idea that they need to make it as formal as possible so people have the feeling nothing is different or rushed. I get it. But the current situation was to be expected and it brings about exactly that awkward pressure they wanted to avoid.

If they had said from the outset, we'll approve as fast as possible and according to all safety standards - and not given a date, please! - that wouldn't have happened. They could have just come out today, on December 15, and approved it cause the science is clear.

And I know, “that's not how it works” but that precisely is the problem here. Some awareness that this approval had to be and will always be special needs to be present somewhere. It's illusory to think it'll be business as usual, just a tad faster.