[NFA] After Canada on Wednesday approved its first COVID-19 vaccine, a U.S. approval drew nearer to reality on Wednesday to counter a coronavirus pandemic that has ravaged the economy and killed over 286,000 people.
This report produced by Jillian Kitchener.
As coronavirus cases in the U.S. soared past the 15 million mark - overwhelming hospitals and forcing new restrictions in pockets across the country - approval of a vaccine could be just around the corner.
A panel of outside advisors are set to vote, Thursday, on whether to recommend the FDA issue an emergency authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Health officials predict a swift green light - enabling the U.S. to join Britain, Bahrain - and now Canada - which approved the vaccine, Wednesday, saying "it is safe, effective and of good quality.” Now attention shifts to the U.S. - where approval rests with the FDA - an agency that U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says you can trust.
“If the United States Food and Drug Administration says that a vaccine is safe and effective, I can promise you that I will take that vaccine myself, and I will recommend that my family does that." In a virtual conversation with Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Wednesday, Fauci hailed the coming vaccines but warned Americans not to let their guards down: GUPTA: “If you’ve been vaccinated, you probably still need to wear a mask, am I right?
Because you could still be carrying the virus and potentially transmitting it even if you’re less likely to be sick yourself.” FAUCI: “Absolutely.
There’s no doubt… So wearing a mask, physical distancing, avoiding crowds - that should all stay as we get into a vaccine..." A vaccine can't come soon enough for many Americans, like California’s Jim Albrecht: “I feel real confident.
I’ll be there day 1 (to get a vaccine).” Health professionals are preparing for the rollout… like the University of Wisconsin-Madison health system, which recently began training staff on how to mix and administer it.
The help is urgently needed.
The U.S. averaged over 2000 deaths and over 200,000 new cases each day for the past week, a staggering toll that U.S. health officials warn is likely to accelerate.
'The New York Times' reports the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the approval on Friday night.
An expert committee convened by the US Food and Drug Administration voted heavily in favor of recommending the Pfizer-BioNTech..