The United States is on the brink of a major milestone in the fight against COVID-19 as vaccine candidates from Moderna and Pfizer seek emergency use authorization. Health officials are preparing for a potential vaccine distribution starting in the coming weeks, with the first batch expected to arrive by mid to late December.
Despite these promising developments, officials caution that the U.S. faces a challenging winter ahead, as new COVID-19 infections continue to rise across the country. Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has indicated that a COVID-19 vaccine may not be widely available to the general public until April or May 2021.
On Tuesday, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel is set to meet to determine the initial groups that should receive the vaccine. It is anticipated that healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes will be among the first to be immunized.
Following the advisory panel's recommendations, the CDC director and the Health and Human Services Secretary must approve the plan. Once approved, these recommendations will become official CDC guidance, guiding the nationwide vaccine distribution efforts.
Individual states are tasked with submitting their initial vaccine distribution plans to the federal government by December 4th, ensuring a coordinated and efficient rollout across the nation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
