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FDA's New Rules: Placebo Trials for COVID Vaccines

5/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The FDA, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to overhaul COVID-19 vaccine approvals, mandating placebo-controlled trials for new vaccines. This pivotal change sparks worries about potential delays and ethical dilemmas. Recently, the agency greenlit Novavax's vaccine, but only for high-risk groups, as forthcoming guidelines aim to clarify testing and approval protocols.

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Story summary

The FDA, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is set to overhaul COVID-19 vaccine approvals, mandating placebo-controlled trials for new vaccines. This pivotal change sparks worries about potential delays and ethical dilemmas. Recently, the agency greenlit Novavax's vaccine, but only for high-risk groups, as forthcoming guidelines aim to clarify testing and approval protocols.