Worthy Christian News > US News > U.S. Approves 2nd COVID Vaccine Ahead of Christmas

U.S. Approves 2nd COVID Vaccine Ahead of Christmas

By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal Friday, hours after Vice-President Mike Pence received another coronavirus jab live on television.

The move marked the world’s first authorization for Moderna’s shots. That vaccine is similar to one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech that was injected into Pence, who told his audience: “I didn’t feel a thing.”

Pence’s wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams also received the jab at the televised White House event. Declared President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will get the vaccine on Monday, a spokesperson said.

Pence received the jab despite some concerns about possible side effects. British regulators warned Wednesday that people who have a history of serious allergic reactions shouldn’t get the new Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

They investigated two adverse reactions that occurred in two injected health workers who had a history of allergies and have since recovered.

Despite the controversies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.

While similar to its rival jab, Moderna’s is easier to handle since it doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-frozen temperatures, experts said.

A second vaccine represents hope amid despair as the virus continues to spread unabated ahead of Christmas gatherings.

Millions of doses of both COVID vaccines are due in the U.S. and other nations as early as this month with the world rushing to halt the rising death toll.

Health authorities say the pandemic has claimed more than 312,000 U.S. lives and killed 1.7 million people worldwide. Most victims were elderly people with underlying health conditions, though in rarer cases younger persons also passed away.