It’s official: vaccinations have finally begun in the U.S.
The moment we’ve all been waiting for since the pandemic first hit has finally come to fruition. The first person in the U.S. has officially been vaccinated for Covid-19.
The nation’s first official vaccination happened yesterday morning in New York and was broadcast live by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Pfizer vaccine was given to Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at a medical center in Queens.
Arizona received its first shipments of the Pfizer vaccine Monday, and is expected to begin vaccinations as early as this Thursday. The state will allocate its first doses to its largest population centers, Maricopa and Pima counties.
Thanks to the help of Operation Warp Speed, Arizona is expected to receive 383,000+ vaccines by the end of the month. But we know this isn’t a silver bullet — Arizona will remain vigilant and continue to follow health and safety precautions to fight #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/k5sYa2YZBf
— Doug Ducey (@DougDucey) December 14, 2020
Governor Doug Ducey said the first doses will be given to frontline health care workers and vulnerable populations. Arizona is expected to receive over 383,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of December.
“The arrival of the vaccine marks a significant moment in the fight against COVID-19 — but we aren’t out of the woods yet. We need to remain vigilant and continue to follow all recommended health and safety precautions,” said the governor in a press release.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine on Friday, allowing for its distribution nationwide. It’s the first to be approved by the FDA, and is currently only recommended for individuals 16 and older. Also in the works is the Moderna vaccine, which will be reviewed by the FDA this Thursday at a Vaccine Advisory Committee Meeting.
Maricopa County officials are taking a phased approach to the distribution of the vaccine, with vaccines for the general public projected for the spring.
[Featured image: Pexels]