Pfizer is gearing up to deliver their COVID-19 vaccines to health professionals. According to multiple reports, the first round of vaccines should arrive just ten days before Christmas.
The distribution schedule for the COVID-19 vaccine is contingent upon the Food and Drug Administration's decision to approve it for emergency use. If approved, the FDA and CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices would review the vaccine for four days and recommend best practices for distribution. Provided the vaccine passes through both steps, Pfizer would begin delivering doses by December 15.
Running close behind, Moderna has recently applied for emergency authorization from the VRBPAC for their vaccine. Following the same schedule, their four day window for review would run from December 18 through December 21. If everything runs smoothly, there could be two vaccines set for release by Christmas.
Pfizer is projected to release 22.5 million doses of their vaccine and Pfizer is set to produce 18 million doses. In a best case scenario, health officials believe that a widespread of vaccines could lead to a return to normal life this fall.
“We’ve got to make sure that people get vaccinated,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said.
“If they get vaccinated through April, May and June, and we really do a full-court press to get everybody vaccinated, you can get back to normal or at least approaching close to normal as you get into the late summer and early fall.”
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