Next steps for the Covid-19 vaccines in the US #Breaking112
Once a vaccine is authorized by the FDA, Operation Warp Speed, the federal government’s initiative to develop a vaccine, can start shipping and distributing the vaccine to states. Vaccinations won’t begin until after a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention committee recommends the vaccine.
Thursday, December 10
Who: FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC — a committee of independent experts with no stake in any of the companies developing Covid-19 vaccines
What’s expected: A vote on a recommendation to the FDA on EUA for Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine
When: 9 a.m. ET start; key testimony at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; Discussion/vote session starts at 3:10 p.m.; 6 p.m. end
What you’ll see: Public and livestreamed remote Zoom meeting — expect audio, slideshows, possibly some video
Thursday, December 11 or later
Who: FDA’s emergency use authorization decision
What’s expected: The FDA’s EUA allows shipping to begin, but shots still can’t be administered until the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee recommends vaccine
When: FDA will announce this at any time, likely without warning.
Friday, December 11 and Sunday, December 13
Who: CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP
What’s expected: A vote that the CDC should offer the vaccine to the American public; for recommendation to be made official, it must be accepted by CDC and published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
When: 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. ET Friday, December 11; 12 p.m.- 4 p.m. ET Sunday, December 13; vote is currently expected at 3:30 p.m. Sunday
What you’ll see: Public and livestreamed remote Zoom meeting — expect audio, slideshows, minimal video
Thursday, December 17
Who: FDA VRBPAC meeting
What’s expected: A vote on a recommendation to the FDA on EUA for Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine
When: Details not posted, expect it to mirror 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. ET schedule of the Pfizer meeting
What you’ll see: Public and livestreamed remote Zoom meeting — expect audio, slideshows, minimal video
Draft agenda: Not yet posted
CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report.
