I hate to do this but consider the following thought exercise: Transport yourself back to fall 2020 when literally the entire world was waiting for a COVID vaccine. We knew there were a few candidates (in fact, one mRNA vaccine was formulated in late January) and were just waiting on the proof – the efficacy studies. Most of the world was elated to find out in early December 2020 that efficacy rates were 95%. Of course, some folks needed to know that a typical flu vaccine provides about 60% efficacy.
Now consider how you would have felt if, instead of conducting randomized control trials that tested outcomes from the vaccine, Pfizer and Moderna had asserted that the vaccine would work because the scientists who created it had strong credentials, the lab environment was properly managed, procedures were impeccably followed, and all the paperwork was in order. I’m not sure about you, but I would have been devastated and probably irate.