The federal Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for a second COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Cambridge-based biotechnology company Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, for people age 18 and up.
The second green light came December 18, as the first vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, approved just over a week ago, is rolling out across the country. Health care workers ranging from custodial staff to doctors began receiving vaccinations at UCSF and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. More are expected to begin receiving the Moderna vaccine starting this week.
The Moderna vaccine was developed with support from the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, and it will be distributed to Americans free of charge.