Distribution Commences for Newly Approved Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine

Over the weekend, the FDA green-lit Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, marking it as the second to be approved in the U.S. Less than 24 hours after a board of independent advisors overwhelmingly approved the vaccine to people over 18, nearly 6 million doses were packed and began distribution yesterday morning. It’s reported between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, around 7.9 million doses will be delivered across 3,700+ locations by this week. Operation Warp Speed’s chief operating officer feels “confident” about reaching their goal of 20 million vaccines by the end of December. After a sufficient number of people in phase 1A are vaccinated, which includes critical health care workers, they’ll move onto phase 1B. A CDC panel has recommended this next group consist of front-line essential workers and those ages 75 and older. It will account for around 49 million people, or 15% of Americans. The decision will now be left up to CDC Director Robert Redfield to sign off on. In other coronavirus vaccine related news, President-elect Joe Biden and his wife will receive their vaccines on live TV today. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband will do the same next week.