On Thursday, December 9th, the Food and Drug Administration was officially advised to authorize the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Phizer by a panel of experts. The vaccine is likely to be authorized and delivered in the coming week, with priority given to healthcare workers and the elderly of nursing homes.

With the death toll rising to more than 3,000 deaths a day, the FDA is expected to permit the emergency use of the vaccine on Saturday. Within the first 24 hours of authorization being granted, 2.9 million doses will be shipped from warehouses for those scheduled to receive it immediately, while another 2.9 million will be withheld to be used as booster shots for those patients three weeks after their initial dose.

Most people will have to wait a few more months before they receive their shot. The first shipment of the vaccines is only the beginning of the months-long process of distributing the vaccine to the public. The process will be regulated by both local and federal authorities, along with pharmacies and hospitals.

As for the Moderna vaccine, it is expected to be authorized in the coming weeks. The company hopes to provide 20 million doses before the end of the year.

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