There's a lot of news about coronavirus vaccines today. Here's what you need to know.
Researchers across the world have been working throughout the pandemic to develop, approve and distribute a coronavirus vaccine.
There's a lot of news about vaccines in Europe and in the US to catch up on this morning. If you're just reading in now, here's what you need to know:
The UK has approved a vaccine: The United Kingdom has become the first Western nation to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, a landmark moment in the coronavirus pandemic that paves the way for the first doses to be rolled out across the country next week. Elderly people in care homes, along with health workers and other vulnerable people, will be top of the priority list for those who get the vaccine first.
The US lays out a plan on who to vaccinate first: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisers recommended yesterday that health care staff and long-term care facility residents be first in line for any Covid-19 vaccines that get emergency authorization in the country. Remember: The US Food and Drug Administration has not yet authorized any coronavirus vaccine candidate.
The vaccine timeline in the US: The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, a panel of independent experts, will meet on Dec. 10 to review Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine candidate and make a recommendation about whether to authorize the vaccine. FDA officials say their decisions on the vaccines could come days to weeks after the meetings — it depends on what questions come up. A similar FDA committee meeting for Moderna's vaccine candidate is set for Dec. 17. The first shipments of Pfizer's vaccine in the US will be delivered on Dec. 15, according to an Operation Warp Speed document.
The UK has granted temporary approval for Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine
From CNN's Claudia Otto and Fred Pleitgen
A handout photo provided by Pfizer shows their vaccine vials. Pfizer
Britain has become the first country to allow the use of Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine after it was granted temporary authorization for emergency use, the companies announced.
This marks the first time that citizens outside of the worldwide clinical trials will have the opportunity to be immunized against Covid-19, according to BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin.
The vaccine will be made available across the UK starting next week, said a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care in a statement. More details will be released soon, including advice for priority groups like the elderly and health care staff to receive the vaccine.
“To aid the success of the vaccination programme it is vital everyone continues to play their part and abide by the necessary restrictions in their area so we can further suppress the virus and allow the NHS to do its work without being overwhelmed," the spokesperson said.
In a news release, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla hailed the emergency authorization as "a historic moment in the fight against COVID-19."
"This authorization is a goal we have been working toward since we first declared that science will win, and we applaud the (Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) for their ability to conduct a careful assessment and take timely action to help protect the people of the UK," he said.
Former US presidents volunteer to take coronavirus vaccine publicly to prove it's safe
From CNN’s Jamie Gangel
From left to right, former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton attend the opening ceremony of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, on April 25, 2013. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Three former United States presidents -- Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton -- are volunteering to receive their Covid-19 vaccines on camera in order to promote public confidence in the medication's safety.
The three former presidents hope an awareness campaign to promote confidence in the vaccine's safety and effectiveness would be a powerful message as American public health officials try to convince the public to get vaccinated once the US Food and Drug Administration authorizes one.
Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff, told CNN that the 43rd president had reached out to Dr. Anthony Fauci -- the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases -- and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, to see how he could help promote the vaccine.
"A few weeks ago President Bush asked me to let Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx know that, when the time is right, he wants to do what he can to help encourage his fellow citizens to get vaccinated," Ford told CNN. "First, the vaccines need to be deemed safe and administered to the priority populations. Then, President Bush will get in line for his, and will gladly do so on camera."
Clinton's press secretary told CNN on Wednesday that he too would be willing to take the vaccine in a public setting in order to promote it.
"President Clinton will definitely take a vaccine as soon as available to him, based on the priorities determined by public health officials. And he will do it in a public setting if it will help urge all Americans to do the same," Angel Urena said.
It has been previously reported that Obama said in an interview with SiriusXM host Joe Madison, scheduled to air Thursday, that if Fauci said a coronavirus vaccine is safe, he believes him.