Dr. Dani Hackner, pulmonologist and chief clinical officer for Southcoast Health System, gets his first dose of the Pfizer-developed coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday. (Courtesy Southcoast Health System)
Frontline health care workers in Massachusetts on Tuesday became among the first in the state to get doses of the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech.
The vaccine was authorized last week by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use; it s the first vaccine of its kind in the U.S.
A similar one, developed by Cambridge-based Moderna, goes before the FDA for emergency authorization next week.
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Dr. Dani Hackner is a pulmonologist and the chief clinical officer for Southcoast Health System, which operates hospitals in New Bedford, Fall River, and Wareham. Hackner and several of his colleagues received the coronavirus vaccine Tuesday; he spoke with WBUR s Jack Lepiarz about why he decided to get vaccinated as soon as he could.
5 Questions Answered As Massachusetts Receives First Shipment Of COVID-19 Vaccine
Victor Mendoza, left, a certified pharmacy technician, signs off on a package containing the first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine delivered to Boston Medical Center on Dec. 14.
Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe via AP, Pool
Massachusetts received its first vaccine to protect against COVID-19 when the shipment was delivered Monday morning at Boston Medical Center.
David Twitchell, the hospital s chief pharmacy officer, said the shipment of 1,950 vials of Pfizer vaccine has been unpacked and put in a freezer that maintains ultra-cold temperatures.
The hospital will begin administering doses on Wednesday. The first will go to doctors, nurses and front-line staff.
Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine found safe, effective, FDA analysis shows Share Updated: 10:03 AM EST Dec 15, 2020
Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine found safe, effective, FDA analysis shows Share Updated: 10:03 AM EST Dec 15, 2020
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Show Transcript MILTON. ANTOINETTE: BREAKING NEWS IN THE RACE FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE. NEW DATA RELEASED FROM THE FDA SHOWS A VACCINE MADE BY MODERNA IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE. THE FINDINGS ARE EXPECTED TO PUSH THE AGENCY TO GRANT EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION THIS FRIDAY. THAT WOULD GIVE AMERICANS ACCESS TO A SECOND VACCINE AS E
TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE Share Updated: 10:03 AM EST Dec 15, 2020 New data released Tuesday by the Food and Drug Administration shows that Cambridge-based Moderna s COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. A briefing document posted online shows that the FDA s initial review confirmed the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of
Operation Warp Speed: 20 million should get first doses of COVID-19 vaccine in December, another 30 million in January
By Robert Weisman Globe Staff,Updated December 14, 2020, 2:03 p.m.
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A FedEx driver gives a thumbs up after delivering a box containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to pharmacists Richard Emery, right, and Karen Nolan as it arrives at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020.David Goldman/Associated Press
Ramping up national distribution of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine, US officials said Monday they expect 20 million Americans to be injected with the first dose by the end of December and 100 million to be fully immunized by the end of March.
Historic distribution effort forming behind COVID vaccine authorization
Wicked Local
After hours of discussion on Thursday, the 22 leading U.S. vaccine scientists on the Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted to authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine available to Americans.
The committee recommends the vaccine, made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech, with a vote of 17-4 with one abstention.
The final decision for the approved-candidate will not clear a final hurdle until a committee convened by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meets Friday and Sunday to determine who should receive the first doses. Depending on timing, the first Americans could start to be vaccinated by the weekend, though more likely Monday.