MODERNA’S Covid-19 vaccine was given emergency authorization by the FDA today as thousands receive the Pfizer jab.
The second coronavirus shot received the emergency use authorization (EUA) on Friday and doses will be shipped as soon as this weekend, with the first jabs being rolled out by Monday.
Shortly after 7.45pm ET, Donald Trump took to Twitter and wrote: “Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available!”
FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn granted the EUA a week after giving similar clearance to one made by Pfizer and its partner company, BioNTech.
Hahn confirmed that he is “authorizing” rather than approving the vaccine because more research over a longer period of time is needed.
News of the Moderna’s authorization:
- Shocking pics show blood of Covid patient, 13, sprayed on wall
- Nurse faints after getting Covid jab but says it’s “common” for her
- Sir Paul McCartney vows to get the coronavirus jab
- France may be under lockdown for a year despite Covid shot
This would be required for full approval but officials say the benefits of a vaccine outweigh the risk as the United States reported its 17 millionth case of Covid-19.
During the clinical trials, Moderna’s jab exhibited 94 percent efficacious in protecting people from the deadly disease.
Trucks will start transporting doses within the next two days and 5.9 million Moderna shots are set to be given out on Monday, reported USA Today.
A whopping 20 million more doses will be delivered by the end of December and further 80 million will be available in the first few months of 2021.
The rapid timeline comes after a contract, signed in August, upped the US government’s direct financial backing of the Massachusetts-based Moderna to $2.5 billion.
The news comes after a third health worker in Alaska had an allergic reaction to the Pfizer vaccine after two others at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau developed symptoms – and one of them was hospitalized.
On Thursday, a Fairbanks staffer received the jab and began experiencing “traditional anaphylactic symptoms,” medics said.
All of the workers have since recovered, the Anchorage Daily News reported, and health officials highlighted that allergic reactions are extremely rare.
Earlier on Friday, Trump said that the Moderna vaccine has been “approved” but the FDA initially claimed they are still “rapidly” were working on green lighting the drug.
The president’s tweet read: “Moderna vaccine overwhelmingly approved. Distribution to start immediately” – but an FDA spokesperson later said the announcement was premature hours before it was confirmed.
LiveSquawk tweeted about 20 minutes after the president: “FDA: Spokesperson: Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine Isn’t Yet Authorized Moderna Vaccine EUA Remains Under Review At FDA”.
On Thursday night, Hahn said the federal agency is “rapidly” working on finalizing and providing an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its vaccine.
Prior to that statement, a group of external FDA advisers guaranteed a second coronavirus vaccine option by endorsing the emergency use of Moderna’s vaccine candidate.
Dr Anthony Fauci predicted that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine would be distributed by “the very early part of next week.”
Speaking on NBC News’ TODAY on Friday, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Savannah Guthrie he hopes the vaccine would be administered by Monday or Tuesday.
“But you know we just have to wait to see for the final decision,” he said ahead of Hahn’s announcement. “But very soon literally within a few days.”
Fauci also admitted that he is “ready” to get vaccinated and will do so” as soon as he can.”
The Pfizer vaccine was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration last week.
It is available for selected groups across the United States.
Despite the rollout of the Pfizer vaccines, Fauci insisted that the country is still in a “serious situation.”
He warned Guthrie that the US still needs “adhere to the public health measures that we’re talking about all the time: the wearing of masks the physical distancing the avoiding crowds in congregate settings.
Fauci added: “We can’t just say ‘well there’s vaccine on the horizon, so let’s just forget about everything else.’
“We’re in a difficult situation so we’ve got to do both. We’ve got to proceed with the rollout of the vaccine, but we’ve got to make sure that we stay with the public health measures.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence declared “I didn’t feel a thing” after getting the Pfizer Covid vaccine live on TV today to boost confidence in the jab.
Pence hailed the “medical miracle” after becoming the highest-ranking member of the US government to receive the vaccine at the White House.
