Communicating Effectively About Emergency Use Authorization and Vaccines in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Both studies found that greater trust in government action was associated with willingness to accept EUA products 9,10 In a qualitative study on public understanding of medical countermeasures, Liu etal 11 assessed willingness to comply with protective actions during a hypothetical novel respiratory virus scenario The White House's adoption of Operation Warp Speed and promises of a vaccine by fall 2020 have undermined trust in any vaccine, whether as an approved EUA or not 13 Graphic representations of the vaccine process, such as the New York Times "Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker," may be helpful to demystify the complex process and reassure individuals about the multiple levels of quality control and the independence of various entities along the production chain 14 Greater transparency about the process may potentially address underlying fears about the pharmaceutical industry's motives or concerns about the politicization of the process Two vaccine candidates now in clinical trials are using technologies not previously approved for vaccines, and given the speed of the research process, it would not be surprising to learn more about potential side effects after any EUA 14 It would behoove the FDA to be forthright and clear in communicating with the public and to avoid overpromising on results, balancing optimism with realistic assessments of existing research Local, state, and federal public health agencies must form partnerships with community organizations, health care providers, faith communities, the media, the private sector, unions, and civic associations