Somewhat-Reticent Traditionally, and with good science behind it, new medication evaluation has always required blind testing which implies use of placebos in a systematic testing structure. This was not done with COVID vaccines, ostensibly due to the crisis nature of the COVID threat. Instead, it was accepted on the basis of similarity in principle to the widespread use of flu vaccines.
As a result, the actual effectiveness (and possible array of side-effects) of the vaccine preparations could not be known with certainty in advance of their approval. Given that COVID virus is as aggressive in mutation (or perhaps even more so) than influenza virus, it can be argued that there remains uncertainty in knowing either vaccine’s true efficacy and side effects unless each variant is placebo tested. Unfortunately, the scientific/statistical realities of this entire business have wow gotten tightly wrapped around the dual axles of politics and VAX/anti-VAX rhetoric.