Coronavirus Vaccine Efficacy Rate Set At 50% Because That’s What US FDA ‘Could Tolerate’

CBER Director Marks explains that too high a bar might result in natural herd immunity before vaccine trials could be completed, while too low a threshold could result in approval of products with limited efficacy.

Accelerated approval may not be appropriate for early coronavirus vaccine candidates, CBER Director Peter Marks said in an up-close look at FDA’s decision-making as it developed its guidance. • Source: screenshot

No complicated analysis or algorithm helped the US Food and Drug Administration determine the efficacy standard for a coronavirus vaccine.

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Peter Marks said 50% was a rate that his staff decided was acceptable...

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