Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant on December 13, 2020 in Portage, Michigan. (Photo by Morry Gash – Pool/Getty Images)
Head of Operation Warp Speed, General Gustav Perna, said at the weekend: “Expect 145 sites across the states to receive the vaccine on Monday, another 425 sites on Tuesday and the final 66 sites on Wednesday.”
During a virtual media conference on Saturday, 12 December, the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA) announced the authorisation for emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
FDA director, Dr Peter Marks said: “Although this is not an FDA approval, this authorisation makes Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine available in the United States… The available safety and effectiveness data support the authorisation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine because the vaccines known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks.”