Two coronavirus vaccines available in US in coming weeks: health secretary
'We could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people’s arms before Christmas,' Azar says
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel provides updates on the coronavirus vaccine after requesting an emergency authorization of the product.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first two vaccines against the novel coronavirus could be available to Americans before Christmas, Health Secretary Alex Azar said on Monday, after Moderna Inc became the second vaccine maker likely to receive U.S. emergency authorization.
The Food and Drug Administration’s outside advisers will meet on Dec. 10 to consider authorizing Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine. That vaccine could be approved and shipped within days, with Moderna’s following one week behind that, Azar said.
“So we could be seeing both of these vaccines out and getting into people’s arms before Christmas,” Azar said on CBS’ “This Morning.”
The federal government will ship the vaccines through its normal vaccine distribution system, with state governors determining where they should go first, Azar said.
MODERNA ESTIMATES WHEN ITS VACCINE COULD BE READY FOR SHIPMENT
“They will be determining which groups to be prioritized. I would hope that the science and the evidence will be clear enough that our governors will follow the recommendations that we will make to them,” Azar said.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
He said he and Vice President Mike Pence will speak to all the nation’s governors later on Monday to discuss the vaccines and which groups of people should be prioritized to get them first.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Kevin Liffey)