Understanding Vaccine Trials and FDA Review

How are vaccines tested for safety and effectiveness? What role do randomized, placebo-controlled trials play—and how are they designed? And how does the FDA decide whether a vaccine is ready for the public?

CVEEP hosted a session exploring how vaccines are evaluated through clinical trials and reviewed by the FDA. Experts in vaccine science, clinical research, and public health broke down the basics of vaccine development, discuss the ethical considerations behind different trial designs, and examine how these decisions can affect access to vaccines and public trust.

Panelists:

• Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, Director, Center on Medical Product Access, Safety and Stewardship (COMPASS) and Attending Physician, Infectious Diseases, Georgetown University and DC Veterans Administration Hospitals; Former Chief Scientist, FDA; Former Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA
• Dr. Jess Steier, CEO, Unbiased Science
• Sue Peschin, President and CEO, Alliance for Aging Research (Moderator)