Pfizer and Moderna are testing their vaccines against UK coronavirus variant
From CNN Health’s Elizabeth Cohen
A vial of Pfizer s Covid-19 vaccine is seen at George Washington University Hospital on December 14 in Washington DC. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool/Getty Images
Pfizer and Moderna are testing their coronavirus vaccines to see if they work against the new mutated version of the virus that’s recently been found in the United Kingdom and other countries, according to company statements. Based on the data to date, we expect that the Moderna vaccine-induced immunity would be protective against the variants recently described in the UK, Moderna said in a statement.
British Airways and Delta agree to test all passengers before entering New York Dave Rushen/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
British Airways and Delta Airlines have agreed to test all passengers before they enter New York state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday afternoon.
Cuomo also asked Virgin Atlantic to join those airlines in voluntary testing passengers before boarding flights to New York.
The news comes after a new Covid-19 variant was reported in England, prompting some countries to ban travel from the United Kingdom.
Remember: There is no evidence the new coronavirus variants are any more virulent, meaning they do not cause more severe disease. They do not appear to impact the effects of treatments or the protection offered by vaccines.
“Now we are able to spread the vaccine to other high-risk healthcare workers,” said Dr. Ankoor Shah, of D.C.’s Department of Health.
In order to coordinate the vaccination of these groups, those who have been added to Group 1A will have to register online. That process will begin later this week.
District officials say 12,600 doses of the Moderna vaccine are arriving from the federal government and 8,000 doses will come from Maryland.
DC to get 12,600 doses of #Moderna this week from the feds and 8,000 from Maryland. 8,775 doses #Pfizer from Virginia and 4,875 from feds. @nbcwashingtonpic.twitter.com/aKeKhcJGCY Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) December 21, 2020
Updated on December 21, 2020 at 9:52 am
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As shipments of Moderna’s vaccine begin, local health officials are warning the public not to get complacent during the holiday season. My concern is that I don t want people to let their guard down thinking well there s a vaccine coming; I m not going to bother wearing a mask, I m not going to bother with social distancing, Dr. Fabian Sandoval, CEO and Research Director at the Emerson Clinical Research Center, said.
Sandoval is urging people not to travel for the holidays, even though things are looking up in terms of vaccine distribution.