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Hello, 

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, making it the second authorized shot in the US. The first batches of the vaccine started getting shipped out on Sunday. 

Even with the promise of two coronavirus vaccines, we’re still early in the vaccination process.

Dr. Vivek Murthy, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice for surgeon general said Americans should prepare for widespread vaccination by “mid-summer, early fall.” A CDC panel on Sunday recommended that essential frontline workers and people 75 and older should be in the next wave to receive the shots. All that’s happening while a mutant coronavirus strain bares down on the UK.

Also in healthcare news:  It'll take longer than promised to vaccinate 20 million Americans, Tennessee frontline healthcare workers share what it's like to get a vaccine, and Moderna's 39-page slide deck from 2017


Pfizer COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine
A nurse prepares a shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, as the U.K. health authorities rolled out a national mass vaccination program.
AP Photo/Frank Augstein

Moderna's vaccine authorization means the US will ship nearly 8 million doses next week - but it'll take longer than promised to vaccinate the first 20 million Americans

  • The US plans to ship 7.9 million doses of coronavirus vaccines this week, to more than 3,700 locations.
  • But officials with Operation Warp Speed say it will take longer than expected to get the first 20 million Americans their doses.
  • The goal had been to reach the 20 million mark by year's end, but now that will take until the first week of January, according to Warp Speed's chief operating officer.
  •  Moderna's COVID-19 shot was authorized Friday, boosting the US vaccine supply.

Read the full story from Andrew Dunn here>>


COVID vaccine selfie
Dr. Prakash Patel, a pulmonologist at Tristar StoneCrest Medical Center, takes a selfie with a nurse after getting his COVID-19 vaccine.
Rob Lindsay

'Our first glimmer of hope': Healthcare workers reflect on a devastating year and a brighter future as they get the first COVID-19 shots

Read the full story from Shelby Livingston here>>


moderna covid vaccine record time 4x3
Moderna; Samantha Lee/Business Insider

See the 39-slide presentation that Moderna used to win over investors before the upstart became the hottest company in biotech

Read the full presentation here>>


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-Lydia

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