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- Aug 19, 2012
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Mamlaka ya Chakula na Dawa nchini humo (FDA) imeidhinisha matumizi ya dharura ya Chanjo dhidi ya CoronaVirus kutoka Pfizer na BioNTech
Rais Donald Trump amedai chanjo za kwanza zitatolewa chini ya saa 24. Watu zaidi ya 292,000 wamefariki dunia kutokana na COVID19 Marekani
Chanjo hiyo imeidhinishwa katika mataifa mbalimbali yakiwemo Uingereza, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain na Canada
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The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.
The agency had come under intense pressure from the Trump administration to approve the vaccine's use.
FDA head Stephen Hahn was told to approve it on Friday or quit, US media said, although he called this "untrue".
President Donald Trump says the first vaccinations will take place "in less than 24 hours". The virus has now killed more than 292,000 in the US.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, told reporters earlier on Friday that his department would work with Pfizer to get the mass vaccination programme started by Monday or Tuesday.
The Pfizer vaccine has received regulatory approval in the UK, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, the US recorded more than 3,000 deaths - the highest total in a single day anywhere in the world.
"Following yesterday's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalisation and issuance of an emergency use authorisation," the FDA statement said.
"The agency has also notified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed [the federal government's vaccine distribution programme], so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution."
The Washington Post said that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had ordered FDA Commissioner Hahn to approve the vaccine on Friday or submit his resignation, citing three sources.
But Mr Hahn told US media he had only been "encouraged to continue working expeditiously" on the vaccine's approval, and that the media representation of the chief of staff's phone call was "untrue".
Amid the reports of White House pressure, President-elect Joe Biden said he wanted to make it clear to the public that they should have confidence in the vaccine, adding: "There is no political influence."
Mr Azar said the US would work with Pfizer to get the vaccine shipped out so that it could be administered to the most vulnerable people by Monday or Tuesday.
Pfizer plans to have 6.4 million doses ready for the US in its first rollout round in late December.
Because two injections are required per person, that is enough for three million people, out of a total US population of 330 million.
Federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the nation's 21 million healthcare workers should be prioritised first, as well the three million elderly Americans living in long-term care homes.
But there is less consensus on how states should distribute it to other groups. The nation's approximately 87 million essential workers are expected to be next in line for the jab, but it will be up to states to decide which industries to prioritise.
Officials say vaccinations for groups that are not at a high risk are expected to take place in the spring of 2021.
A second vaccine, developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, is also seeking emergency approval in the US. Like the Pfizer vaccine it requires a second round of injections.
Rais Donald Trump amedai chanjo za kwanza zitatolewa chini ya saa 24. Watu zaidi ya 292,000 wamefariki dunia kutokana na COVID19 Marekani
Chanjo hiyo imeidhinishwa katika mataifa mbalimbali yakiwemo Uingereza, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain na Canada
=====
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use.
The agency had come under intense pressure from the Trump administration to approve the vaccine's use.
FDA head Stephen Hahn was told to approve it on Friday or quit, US media said, although he called this "untrue".
President Donald Trump says the first vaccinations will take place "in less than 24 hours". The virus has now killed more than 292,000 in the US.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, told reporters earlier on Friday that his department would work with Pfizer to get the mass vaccination programme started by Monday or Tuesday.
The Pfizer vaccine has received regulatory approval in the UK, Canada, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, the US recorded more than 3,000 deaths - the highest total in a single day anywhere in the world.
What has the FDA said?
On Thursday, medical experts advising the FDA recommended the emergency-use approval. A 23-member panel concluded the vaccine's benefits outweighed its risks."Following yesterday's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalisation and issuance of an emergency use authorisation," the FDA statement said.
"The agency has also notified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Operation Warp Speed [the federal government's vaccine distribution programme], so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution."
Has the FDA been leaned on?
On Friday, President Donald Trump sent out an angry tweet calling the FDA a "big, old, slow turtle", adding: "Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr Hahn. Stop playing games and start saving lives."The Washington Post said that White House chief of staff Mark Meadows had ordered FDA Commissioner Hahn to approve the vaccine on Friday or submit his resignation, citing three sources.
But Mr Hahn told US media he had only been "encouraged to continue working expeditiously" on the vaccine's approval, and that the media representation of the chief of staff's phone call was "untrue".
Amid the reports of White House pressure, President-elect Joe Biden said he wanted to make it clear to the public that they should have confidence in the vaccine, adding: "There is no political influence."
What could happen now it has been approved?
Operation Warp Speed says that vaccine deliveries will begin within 24 hours of approval.Mr Azar said the US would work with Pfizer to get the vaccine shipped out so that it could be administered to the most vulnerable people by Monday or Tuesday.
Pfizer plans to have 6.4 million doses ready for the US in its first rollout round in late December.
Because two injections are required per person, that is enough for three million people, out of a total US population of 330 million.
Federal officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the nation's 21 million healthcare workers should be prioritised first, as well the three million elderly Americans living in long-term care homes.
But there is less consensus on how states should distribute it to other groups. The nation's approximately 87 million essential workers are expected to be next in line for the jab, but it will be up to states to decide which industries to prioritise.
Officials say vaccinations for groups that are not at a high risk are expected to take place in the spring of 2021.
A second vaccine, developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health, is also seeking emergency approval in the US. Like the Pfizer vaccine it requires a second round of injections.
