Topic: Janet Woodcock

The FDA has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, claiming a 90.7% efficacy rate in clinical trials. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock addressed parental concerns regarding long COVID and MIS-C, though critics point out that rare side effects like myocarditis may not surface in a 4,000-subject trial. Current polling suggests only one-third of parents intend to vaccinate their children immediately, leading to media discussions about slow "uptake" in younger demographics.

Two top FDA regulators resigned following disagreements with the CDC over the timeline for COVID-19 boosters. The agency also faced internal turmoil after approving the Alzheimer's drug Adjuhelm against the advice of its advisory committee. Further discussion highlights the "revolving door" between regulators and industry, noting former FDA chief Fred Hahn joining a biotech firm and Emer Cooke's history as a pharmaceutical lobbyist before leading the EMA.