Moderna nears U.S. authorization for COVID-19 shot
One day after Americans began getting vaccinated against COVID-19, a second vaccine - this one from Moderna - is on track for FDA approval this week after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration staff endorsed it as safe and effective in documents released Tuesday.
Moderna could get the green light as early as Friday, according to the New York Times, making millions of doses available to Americans within days.
Moderna's approval would follow FDA's granting of emergency use of Pfizer's vaccine and would help the United States fulfill its promise to inoculate 20 million people this month.
After healthcare workers, nursing home residents are next in line and many are eager to get their shots, like 76-year-old Catherina Mazon:
"I know that there could be side effects, I'm aware of that, but I'm also aware that there are often lasting side effects of having the coronavirus. I'd rather have the side effect, if anything, from the vaccine."
76-year-old Roselyn Kerley said she's happy the vaccine is on its way, even though she might not be eligible because she's allergic to penicillin.
"I can't understand people don't want to take it. I would have it in a heartbeat. It's got to be better than the COVID, that's a nasty thing.”
Health officials are hoping to spread that confidence to the greater public. As of now, many Americans remain skeptical. Only 61% of respondents in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll said they were open to getting vaccinated.
