> This could be the fastes approval in the whole drugs' history considering that
Without a doubt. The closest competitors would be imatinib (3 years) and several other chemotherapy drugs (~5 years) meant to treat malignant tumors. The vast majority of the drugs approved this quickly, with the exception of the HepC treatment, treated diseases with a life expectancy of less than the time it took to approve the drugs so long term side effects was less of a concern.
Would those drugs be in use by the majority of the patients that need them before that though, as they'd be in the studies etc? Whereas this vaccine needs to be given to a large percentage of the population. How are flu vaccines regulated? They change yearly, correct?
Without a doubt. The closest competitors would be imatinib (3 years) and several other chemotherapy drugs (~5 years) meant to treat malignant tumors. The vast majority of the drugs approved this quickly, with the exception of the HepC treatment, treated diseases with a life expectancy of less than the time it took to approve the drugs so long term side effects was less of a concern.