Thread by @joshmich

Some initial thoughts on full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine and what it might mean for vaccine acceptance in the US, based on @KFF polling and policy work

A commonly referenced finding from KFF's vaccine monitor is that 3 in 10 unvaccinated people reported they'd be more likely to get the vaccine upon full FDA approval
kff.org/coronavirus-co…

Still, I don't think it means that if unvaccinated people hear the news about full FDA approval 3 in 10 of will all of a sudden decide to get the shot based on that alone.

As our report states, the "reported increased likelihood [from full FDA licensure] does not necessarily reflect a nuanced understanding of the FDA approval process among unvaccinated adults and may be a proxy for more general concerns about safety.”

Whether or not people’s concerns about vaccine safety are changed by the FDA move remains to be seen, and might depend a lot on whether and how local authorities, public health leaders, and others communicate this new development to those who remain hesitant about the vaccine.

To this point, @DrewAltman wrote recently: "FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine can provide a big boost to vaccination efforts or a more modest one, depending on how it is handled when the approval comes down."
kff.org/coronavirus-co…

If the full approval is used in a way to bolster the (already solid) arguments that these vaccines are safe and effective, it could translate into a lot of "wait and see" fence-sitters choosing to get their shots.

Even so, the most significant near-term effect of the FDA move may be more vaccine mandates/requirements from employers/institutions across the country. We might expect many more announcements in days and weeks to come now uncertainty around EUA vs full approval has been lifted.