At least 55 immunization sites across the U.S. received doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s long-awaited vaccine Monday morning, says Army Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed. The effort to get the vaccine into medical professionals’ hands, he said, has gone “incredibly well.”
Perna credited a number of people for the success, from volunteers who helped to test the vaccine to those who worked over the weekend to prepare, ship and deliver the doses, which must be stored at very cold temperatures to remain viable.
The U.S. vaccine distribution network kicked into high gear over the weekend after the Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization late Friday. Vaccinations have now been reported in a number of states, including New York, Florida and Kentucky. Officials said it’s just the start as they ramp up deliveries of the vaccine and await authorization for a second vaccine.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
