The United States is expected to start vaccinating with the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna today, on December 21, after the shot became the second vaccine to receive emergency use in the United States on Friday. Earlier in December, The United States previously authorized the use of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
Initial shipments took place on Sunday, distributing among different centers across the states. The much-needed shots will likely be given out starting Monday, according to CBS News.
Comparing with the well-known Pfizer shot, the Moderna vaccine has shown to be equally effective in preventing COVID-19. Both shots have around 95% efficacy.
On top of the still raging COVID cases in the US and other countries, a new cause for alarm has emerged around the world due to the coronavirus mutation, which has manifested itself in the UK and several European countries.
Due to the new strain of coronavirus, many countries around the world, including Georgia, have stopped air traffic with Great Britain.
To assess the situation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the Crisis Staff (COBRA) later today. Germany, which holds the rotating EU presidency, also decided on Monday to hold a special anti-crisis meeting, planning to discuss the coordinated response of the 27-nation bloc to the virus.
To date, the world has registered 77,264,853 coronavirus cases, 21,394,602 of these patients are still currently infected. With 209,462 total cases and 2,140 COVID related deaths, Georgia is ranked the 42nd country in the world in the number of coronavirus infections.
By Nini Dakhundaridze
