Pfizer and BioNTech Vaccine Receive Emergency Approval in the US / Article / LSM.lv

Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine are approved for emergency use in the United StatesRihards Plūme00:00 / 00:00

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The emergency approval of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines provides an opportunity for a mass vaccination program in the United States.

First of all, it is planned to vaccinate health care workers and residents of nursing homes. The vaccine was 95% effective in clinical trials with Pfizer.

The United States has become the sixth country in the world after Britain, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Canada to approve the vaccine.

According to Steven Han, Head of the Food and Drug Administration, the approval of the emergency use of the first Covid-19 vaccine is a major milestone in the fight against this devastating pandemic.

In total, 100 million doses of this vaccine have been ordered, and one person needs two doses, so this order will be enough to vaccinate 50 million people. By the end of the month, the United States plans to vaccinate about 20 million people. Immediately after the administration’s announcement, Donald Trump, the owner of the White House, spread the message on Twitter, emphasizing that the first vaccine will be used “in less than 24 hours”.

“I have very good news. Today, our nation has achieved a medical miracle. In our partnership with FedEx and UPS, we have already begun shipping this vaccine to all states and zip codes in this country. The first vaccine will be given in less than 24 hours. The state governors will decide which of their states will be vaccinated first. We want our senior citizens, health workers and first aiders to be first in line. This will quickly and dramatically reduce the number of deaths and hospitalizations, ”said Trump.

The approval of the vaccine came at a time when the number of deaths in the country is approaching 300,000. The decision of the administration has been made earlier than expected. This was announced on the day the White House threatened to dismiss the head of the administration if he did not grant emergency approval as early as Friday. Trump’s political interference in the scientific process could, according to some experts, undermine confidence in the vaccine.

It should be noted that in the meantime, the US Supreme Court has given another blow to Trump’s efforts to change the outcome of the presidential election by rejecting the Texas state’s attempt to block the election results in four other states.

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