> were tested in large, randomized controlled trials
Not true. This anon transcribes market research interviews of doctors for pharma companies. Do a LOT of clinical trial related work. Those trials were NOT complete. It was impossible to do so in the time frame. The emergency use authorization was put in place before any trials were completed in the "normal" fashion. Endpoints for things like efficacy and safety, overall survival, etc., could not have been done. It takes years to do that correctly.