New York Times.The FDA is responsible for making sure that any fast-tracked vaccine not only works but is safe. “The vaccine must go through a minimum of three phases before approval, the last being the most thorough with a minimum of 30,000 individuals tested, especially those in high-risk groups such as the elderly, those with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, and racial groups with health disparities,” Dr.
Parikh says.There are still some unknowns: like whether or not a vaccine will be safe for kids or pregnant women. Pfizer in October that it would start testing its vaccine in kids but so far there are no trials that include —who are more likely to suffer from serious complications of the coronavirus.