A bit late, but I wish to applaud Pfizer/BioNTech

[My Pet Orangutan]

for making their application for emergency FDA approval after November 3rd.

No, I don't think it would have changed the election result, but it certainly would have sown widespread distrust of the vaccine(s) as an election stunt, rushed through at the expense of safety to benefit Trump.

As events played out, having UK approval before the FDA, along with the fact Pfizer rejected Warp Speed money also helped.

My rule of thumb with this administration was/is to treat every announcement as a lie. That would have gone double for a vaccine miracle announced on election eve.

Anyway - thanks to all concerned.

[Hoyt]

1. It shouldn't have, but I think an early announcement might have impacted the election.

trump and his flock can live with that just like we lived with Comey's announcement.

[My Pet Orangutan]

2. Who knows? Come announcement can be measure by opinion polls

- it made the difference.

[LisaL]

3. I don't think Pfizer waited for anything.

They applied as early as they could.

[My Pet Orangutan]

4. They could have rushed it, but did not.

Added supplementary data to the FDA application a week or two later.

[intrepidity]

5. If memory serves, and it often doesn't, the trial data came in like just days before election

They made their public anmouncement about the 90+% efficacy almost immediately, but it was after election.

I think that was just how the timeline went. They were going as fast as possible.

I'm glad it didn't come before election though, for the reasons you mention.