The FDA’s Political Inoculation

The U.K. on Wednesday approved Pfizer -BioNTech’s vaccine, and no doubt many Americans are wondering as thousands die each day why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration wasn’t first. Blame politicians who promoted public skepticism of a vaccine that U.S. regulators now feel they must remedy.

Two weeks ago Pfizer and BioNTech applied to the FDA for emergency use authorization of their vaccine, which they reported was 95% effective. The FDA then scheduled an online public meeting on Dec. 10 with outside experts to discuss the authorization and allowed the...