Public Health Leaders Vow Science, Not Politics, Will Guide COVID-19 Vaccine

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is pictured in a hearing on July 31. He is testifying on Wednesday alongside other top health officials in a Senate panel hearing.

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Updated at 1:37 p.m. ET

Amid criticism from Democrats that politics may be guiding decisions at the nation’s top health agencies, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration told Congress on Wednesday that a coronavirus vaccine would not be approved until it met “vigorous expectations” for safety and effectiveness.

“Decisions to authorize or approve any such vaccine or therapeutic will be made by the dedicated career staff at FDA through our thorough review processes, and science will guide our decisions,” FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn told senators.