Second vaccine on the horizon to assist U.S in Covid fight

The U.S is set to ship 5.9 million doses of the Modena vaccine following its expected approval on Friday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health secretary says.

Medical intensive care unit nurse Tor Hansen received one of the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine from RN Jennifer Lisciotti at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., December 16, 2020. Craig F. Walker/Pool via REUTERS

Moderna Inc's entry into the Covid-19 fight will come a week after Pfzer Inc/BioNTech's vaccine reached all 50 U.S states following its approval last week.

The addition will be a well needed boost in assisting U.S doctors in containing the virus that has already infected close to 17 million people and killed 307,767, making the U.S the hardest-hit country in the world by the pandemic.

“We’re ready to start shipping this weekend to them for rollout Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of next week,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told CNBC.

Just like Pfizer Inc/BioNTech's vaccine, the Moderna vaccine is 95% effective in preventing the respiratory illness, but unlike Pfizer/BioNtech's drug, Moderna's vaccine doesn't have to be stored in subzero temperatures (-70c). A regular fridge will do the trick.

By: Niza Nondo