The U.S. government, FedEx and the United Parcel Service have begun the enormous logistical undertaking of delivering millions of vaccine doses across the country.
Trucks containing the first packages of the vaccine are leaving Pfizer's facility in Michigan today with delivery expected on Monday to sites across all 50 states.
CDC Director Robert Redfield has signed off on the vaccine, allowing immunizations to begin Monday.
The shots should go to front-line health-care workers and residents at long-term care facilities first, where the virus has had a devastating toll, according to CDC guidelines.
It's a race against time to ramp up the vaccine program into a mass inoculation campaign as thousands of people die everyday from Covid-19, with the toll only expected to increase over the holidays.
More than 2,300 deaths were recorded Saturday, following over 3,300 deaths Friday. New infections continue to explode, with more than 219,000 cases reported yesterday.
The following data is from Johns Hopkins University:
- Global cases: More than 71.8 million
- Global deaths: More than 1.6 million
- U.S. cases: More than 16 million
- U.S. deaths: More than 297,000
Here's what you need to know:
- 189 boxes with vaccines doses leave Michigan Pfizer facility for 50 states
- Another 400 packages ship Monday with delivery expected Tuesday
- HHS says 100 million vaccinations by March
- FDA to publish assessment on Moderna vaccine, approval possible by Friday
- Vaccine czar doesn't expect supply problems as program ramps
- NIH director pleads with public to trust science and get the shot
- Bill Gates says end in sight for pandemic