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Trucks carrying the first doses of the vaccine developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech began leaving the Michigan plant on Sunday (13). From there, they should go to 145 distribution centers in the country, according to the US military.
The US government promised to begin vaccinating its population against Covid-19 on Monday (14), after a committee from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave a favorable opinion on the vaccine . BNT162b2.
Pfizer employees cheered as the first batches of the vaccine left the factory (see video below). According to The New York Times, in addition to the pharmaceutical team, CDC representatives followed the preparation of the packages.
Pfizer employees applaud the departure of the first batches of vaccine from the factory
On Friday (11), the US regulatory agency FDA authorized the emergency use of the vaccine in the US This permit authorized the shipment and distribution, but CDC Director Robert Redfield still needs to give final approval for the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine, which should happen on Sunday.
Last week, an independent group of experts heard by the FDA recommended giving the vaccine to people over 16 years of age. Patients with severe allergies should avoid this immunizer after reaction has been reported in the UK.
The Pfizer factory ships the first batches of vaccine to the US.
The immunization developed by the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech requires very specific storage and transport conditions, which is why the first doses were grouped in boxes with dry ice, which must keep the temperature of the vaccine at -70 ºC.
- Storage at -70 ° C is a challenge for the vaccine, experts say
Workers at Pfizer’s Michigan factory pack the first doses of the Covid-19 vaccine – Photo: Morry Gash / Pool / Reuters
On Saturday (12), US General Gustave Perna, who oversees vaccine distribution, compared the country’s strategy to “D-Day”, a reference to the date of World War II that marked the beginning of the Allied victory.
“I am absolutely sure, 100%, that we will distribute this vaccine in the best way,” said the military man at a press conference.
Countries that have already approved the vaccine
The UK and Bahrain approved the use of the immunizer last week, but only the UK has started its vaccination campaign. On Tuesday, The vaccination campaign for the British began. – applied free of charge by the public health service (NHS).
A 90-year-old woman, Margaret Keenan, was the first to receive the dose.
British Margaret Keenan, 90, receives a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at a hospital in Coventry, in central England. It was the first to receive the vaccine from the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer and the German biotechnology company BioNTech in the UK – Photo: Jacob King / pool via Reuters
Health Canada, the agency that regulates vaccines in the country, approved the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday. After data review, the Canadians concluded that the vaccine is safe and effective And now it can be applied nationwide, in an emergency, to people over 16 years of age.
The next day the Saudi Arabia also approved the request. immunization in the country. Hours before the FDA announced approval of the vaccine on Friday, the regulator The Mexican Cofepris launched the immunizer Pfizer.
