3 Mass. experts sat on advisory panel that recommended approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

BOSTON — Independent, scientific experts and infectious disease doctors examined the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, and after analysis and discussion they gave it a favorable endorsement.

The vote came down 17 to 4 on Thursday, with one panel member abstaining. With that, the outsider advisory panel’s recommendation now goes to those inside the Food and Drug Administration.

Three local Massachusetts experts are a part of this group.

Eric Rubin, M.D., of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Ofer Levy, MD of Boston Children’s Hospital both voted yes.

H. Cody Meissner, MD of Tufts Medical Center was the lone abstention.

“I am uncomfortable about the question as it’s written,” Meissner said during Thursday’s hearing.

Here’s ultimately what the panel was asked to decide:

“Based on the totality of scientific evidence available, do the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks for use in individuals 16 years of age or older?”

Meissner, the chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Tufts Medical Center and an expert on childhood vaccines, raised concerns about the lack of available info on how this vaccine impacts kids.

“I do not believe we have sufficient data for 16 and 17-year-olds. I would prefer to say for use in individuals 18 years of age and older,” Meissner said.

Ultimately the panel moved forward with the language as is.

Medical professionals, including Eric Dickson MD, president and CEO of UMASS Memorial Medical Center said they’re breathing a sigh of relief.

“We need a little bit of a miracle here. This is what we’re hoping for, today is the start of that miracle. That today would be the beginning of the end,” Dickson said. “Because once we start vaccinating people with an effective vaccine, it is over for the virus ultimately.”

The FDA does not have to accept this recommendation. But it’s widely anticipated that it will. FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn M.D. issued a statement tonight saying how important that outside, expert input is. But he made clear the “ultimate decision on whether to authorize a vaccine for emergency use will be made by FDA’s career officials.”

Work for the advisory panel continues. Members will go through the same process to analyze data on the vaccine from Cambridge-based, Moderna. That will happen on December 17th.

Dr. Eric Rubin on why he voted to approve Pfizer's vaccine for emergency use

Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts

>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

RESOURCES:

- Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW

- Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV