He said if FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn approves a vaccine based on flimsy evidence, "he's got a lot of people he'd have to answer to." Half the participants will get the vaccine and half will get a placebo -- a shot that does nothing. Collins added that he doesn't think Hahn, the FDA commissioner, would bend to pressure from Trump to pull an October surprise. I can't imagine him compromising his principles on the basis of political pressure not now and not [in] November," Collins said. Emanuel, Offit's co-author on the October surprise article, said Hahn has already made decisions during the pandemic that appear to be politically motivated.

Source: CNN August 11, 2020 18:22 UTC