White House orders FDA chief to authorize coronavirus vaccine Friday or resign

The White House is increasing pressure on Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to issue an emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine by end of day Friday, according to administration officials, amid reports that he has been asked to resign if he fails to meet the target.

A day earlier, the vaccine, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, won the backing of the FDA’s panel of outside advisers. Their approval means the next step is for the FDA to issue an emergency use authorization before vaccinations can begin.