Penn experts demystify the process of shipping a vaccine and, ultimately, getting it into arms. The first COVID-19 vaccine arrives at Pennsylvania Hospital on Dec. 16. When Operation Warp Speed launched on May 15, it set out to accelerate the process of vaccine development, manufacturing, and distribution. And it did: By December, Pfizer had published results of its clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of its mRNA vaccine, and on Dec. 11, the FDA issued emergency approval for its distribution. The emergency-use approval of a second mRNA vaccine, led by Moderna, followed a week later. But now comes the next step: getting shots in arms.