[dahfizz]

Clinical trials gets a drug approved for use. It proves that the drug meets certain safety requirements.

Just because a drug is approved doesn't mean you should take it indiscriminately. It is "safe" to drink NyQuil every night. Doesn't mean you should. If it confers no benefit to you in your unique circumstance, you shouldn't take it. Hence, the booster is not recommended for certain groups - because it is not needed and provides no benefit.

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

Safety is half of it. Clinical trials also gather evidence of beneficial effects.

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-consumers-and-patients...

> If the Phase 2 trials indicate that the drug may be effective--and the risks are considered acceptable, given the observed efficacy and the severity of the disease--the drug moves to Phase 3.

[rdtwo]

Yeah but the FDA is famous for approving expensive drugs that have no/little effect. So at least in the USA if a drug is approved it doesn’t mean it does anything useful

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

They're famous for it? How many total drugs have they approved and how many were later found to have issues?

This year it appears they've approved 30 and last year they approved 50. That's quite a few.

[rdtwo]

Fame is about one spectacular thing not usally a body of work. There are lots of drugs they routinely approve but it’s how they handle the big controversial ones that shape the public image