Five States Say They Will Independently Verify COVID-19 Vaccines Before Distribution

A growing number of states say they don’t plan to automatically distribute FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines to their residents. Nevada, Oregon and Washington announced last week that they plan to conduct independent verification before distributing any vaccines.

The three states join California and New York, whose officials made similar announcements earlier this fall.

And at least one medical group is also planning to independently review any FDA-approved vaccine. The National Medical Association, a trade group for black physicians, announced last month that it would assemble an expert task force to review decisions about COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics.

The caution by the states and the physicians group reflects their concern that many Americans do not trust vaccines and won’t take them when they become available. It also responds to worries that the Trump administration, via Operation Warp Speed, is pressuring the FDA to approve vaccines without the necessary safety and efficacy data.

The tide of mistrust turned a little in early September when companies working on vaccines released a public statement declaring that they would take a strictly science-based approach in seeking vaccine approvals. It also helped when the FDA announced that it would require at least two months of follow-up data on each vaccine trial participant before a vaccine could be approved (DID, Oct. 7).

Nevertheless, some states aren’t taking chances.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state would assemble an 11-member Scientific Safety Review Workgroup to study the safety of COVID-19 vaccines before the state would OK them for its residents (DID, Oct. 22).

“We don’t take anyone’s word for it,” said Newsom at a press briefing on the decision. “We will do our own, independently reviewed process with our world-class experts.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he wants to “give Washingtonians the highest confidence that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available that it’s safe and works.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to join with other Western states to help build confidence in a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Richard Whitley, director of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.

New York was the first state to announce the formation of an oversight group when Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sept. 24 that the White House’s disputes with the FDA were raising serious questions about political influence on vaccine approvals (DID, Sept. 25).

“Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion and I wouldn’t recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion,” Cuomo said. “We’re going to put together our own review committee headed by the Department of Health to review the vaccine.” — Suz Redfearn