FDA Issues Emergency Approval , for Pfizer COVID Vaccine.
'The New York Times' reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the approval on Friday night.
An initial 2.9 million doses will be shipped around the U.S. over the next week.
The FDA had intended
to issue approval for
use of the vaccine
beginning on Saturday.
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows
reportedly gave an ultimatum to the
head of the FDA, Dr. Stephen M. Hahn:.
The agency either issue approval for
the vaccine by the end of day on Friday,
or Hahn would be removed from his position.
Dr. Hahn denies
the phone call with
Meadows occurred.
Both the U.K. and Canada began
vaccinating its citizens this week.
Russia began its vaccination program last weekend.
The COVID death toll in the U.S. was nearly 295,000
on Friday. More than 15.75 million people
have tested positive with the virus