We could have a second COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week if the FDA decides whether to authorize Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use.
Live stream: FDA panel meets to vote on Moderna COVID vaccine authorization
A key FDA panel is set to vote Thursday on whether to recommend the approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. A favorable vote form this panel could clear the path for Moderna’s vaccine to become the second approved for use in the United States. The FDA does not have to follow the advice of the panel, but it often does.
Read more: A look at the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine data that was released
If emergency use is authorized by the FDA, health officials say they are ready to ship just less than six million doses of the Moderna vaccine across the United States.
Michigan expects to receive 173,000 doses of the vaccine from Moderna.
Pfizer vaccine being distributed
On Friday, the United States granted an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
With the authorization, the vaccine will ship via FedEx and UPS, with the two carriers splitting the country in half. In Michigan, it will be UPS rolling out of Pfizer’s Portage cold farm with 85,000 vials slated for the state.
“I’m very excited about the vaccine distribution. It means that the end of the pandemic is near and we are working diligently with partners across the state to distribute COVID vaccines,” said Dr. Joneigh Khladun, Michigan chief medical executive.
READ: US allows emergency COVID-19 vaccine in bid to end pandemic
The vaccine will be distributed in Michigan in the following phases:
- Phase 1A includes paid and unpaid persons serving in health care settings who have direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials and are unable to work from home, as well as residents of long-term care facilities.
- Phase 1B includes some workers in essential and critical industries, including workers with unique skill sets such as non-hospital or non-public health laboratories and mortuary services.
- Phase 1C includes people at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions, and people 65 years and older.
- Phase 2 is a mass vaccination campaign for all adults.
Read more: Which COVID-19 vaccine should you take once both are approved: Pfizer or Moderna?
Coronavirus resources:
- View more: Michigan COVID-19 data 📊📈
- Question about coronavirus? Ask Dr. McGeorge here.