US president-elect Joe Biden has taken the first step towards COVID-19 immunity, receiving his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a hospital in Newark, Delaware.
Key points:
- Mr Biden made his vaccination public in an effort to convince Americans the jab is safe
- Vice-president-elect Kamala Harris will receive the vaccination next week
- The UK has also begun its rollout of the Pfizer vaccine
The vaccination took place on live television as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the inoculations are safe.
He urged Americans to get the vaccine when it is available.
"I'm ready," said Mr Biden, as he declined the option to count to three before the needle was inserted into his left arm.
The president-elect praised the health care workers and said President Donald Trump's administration "deserves some credit getting this off the ground."
Mr Trump, who in the past has spread misinformation about vaccine risks, has not said when he intends to get the shot.
He tweeted earlier this month that he was "not scheduled" to take it, but said he looked "forward to doing so at the appropriate time."
A spokesperson for the transition to the Biden presidency said vice-president-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, would receive their first vaccinations next week.
Vice-President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are among other lawmakers who received their first jabs last week, also choosing to do so publicly as part of the vaccination safety campaign.
Pfizer's vaccine requires two doses administered several weeks apart in order to reach its reported 95 per cent efficacy.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorised the use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine on December 12, with the first doses administered two days later to frontline health care workers.
The vaccine comes with complex distribution challenges as it must be shipped and stored at -70 degrees Celsius, requiring specialised ultra-cold freezers or supplies of dry ice.
The UK has also begun vaccinating its frontline workers, while other countries including the Austria, Germany and Italy are undergoing preparations for a rollout from December 27.
ABC/AP
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiT2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEyLTIyL2pvZS1iaWRlbi1nZXRzLXBmaXplci1jb3ZpZC1qYWIvMTMwMDYxMDLSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTMwMDYxMDI?oc=5
2020-12-21 21:14:00Z
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