FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine For Emergency Use

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted on Thursday to recommend the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States.

The FDA is expected to give the official approval for Moderna's vaccine as soon as Friday.

Moderna's vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage like Pfizer's vaccine, which will ease distribution in rural communities.

According to federal officials, they are prepared to roll out six million doses as early as next week.

Dr. Loren Hamel President of Spectrum Health Lakeland said, "We have finally turned the corner from just a defensive strategy around COVID-19 to in fact an offensive strategy."

Teenagers as young as 16 can get the Pfizer vaccine while Moderna's vaccine is recommended for adults.

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence will be vaccinated on Friday and President-elect Joe Biden could receive his shot as soon as next week.

Federal officials hope 50 million Americans will have gotten at least their first shot by February.