(Reuters) – With shots of Pfizer Inc.’s and BioNTech SE’s COVID-19 vaccine ready to be distributed after the United States authorized it on Friday, Food and Drug Administration head Stephen Hahn said he was ready for a vaccination as soon as available.
Hahn, speaking during a press conference, defended the fastest-ever vaccine process, saying the agency did not sacrifice safety in return for speed.
He also described as inaccurate press reports that said President Donald Trump’s administration had threatened to fire him if the FDA did not approve the authorization by a certain date.
(Reporting by Michael Erman in New York and Lucia Mutikani in Washington D.C.; Writing by Caroline Humer; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
