The FDA may not fully approve a COVID-19 vaccine until January. Here’s why

It looks as though the first full approval of a COVID-19 vaccine will happen by January at the latest, according to the typical timeline for new therapies that are considered a priority by U.S. regulators.

Pfizer Inc. PFE, -0.56% announced Friday that the Food and Drug Administration has accepted the drug maker’s application for approval, granted the company’s vaccine a type of speedier designation called “Priority Review” that requires a decision within six months, and set a decision date for sometime in January.