[iguy]

Yes I mostly agree, it does set a good precedent, even if all it now gives us is "normal science" data.

Would like to understand better how much of the time was needed to ramp up production. My assumption was that Moderna & co. were working on that full speed, and once they'd made enough for the trials, stockpiled every dose they could make until approval.

If they'd had today's production rate in (say) April, I think we'd still have got all the deaths of the first wave. Unless, perhaps, knowing that vaccination was only a few months out would have allowed a much stronger lockdown, but I doubt it.