Dr. Fauci says UK rushed approval of COVID vaccine

Dr Anthony Fauci, top US infectious disease expert, on Thursday, said UK was t as rigorous as US health authorities in its COVID-19 vaccine approval process. UK on Wednesday became first country in world to approve Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for coronavirus.

" UK did t do it as carefully," he told Fox News. "If you go quickly and you do it superficially, people are t going to want to get vaccinated."

"We really scrutinise data very carefully to guarantee to American public that this is a safe and efficacious vaccine," he said.

“We have gold standard of a regulatory approach with US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). UK did t do it as carefully and y got a couple of days ahead," 79-year-old expert said.

Pfizer/BioNTech is fastest ever vaccine to go from concept to reality, taking only 10 months to follow same developmental steps that rmally span a decade. UK has defended its approval process, and said jab is safe and effective. Dr June Raine, head of UK medicines regulator, on Wednesday said that " corners had been cut" in vetting jab. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory ncy (MHRA) reviewed preliminary data on vaccine trials dating back to June.

" vaccine would be authorised for supply in UK unless expected standards of safety, quality and efficacy are met," regulator said.

On Thursday, UK's deputy chief medical officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tam told BBC he was "very confident" in MHRA. Dr Fauci's remarks come as US nears 14 million total COVID-19 infections, with a recorded 273,590 deaths. US, worst-hit nation by pandemic, is yet to approve any coronavirus vaccine. top doctor has said he believed that US would have vaccine approval soon, and defended US FDA and its review process.

FDA plans to meet on December 10 to discuss approval for UK-approved vaccine, which was created through a partnership between Pfizer and BioNTech. y will meet again on December 17 to discuss a second vaccine - Moderna's - request. Dr. Fauci has led US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH) for more than 30 years, and has become most visible member of Trump administration's White House's coronavirus task force.