Coronavirus Watch: Moderna is second to request emergency FDA authorization

Happy Monday-after-Thanksgiving. More good vaccine news: Moderna will apply today for an emergency use authorization from the FDA after receiving more promising reports about the safety and effectiveness of its candidate COVID-19 vaccine.

Here's the day's biggest news, as of 2:45 p.m. ET:

• More on Moderna: The Biotech company's latest findings showed that of 196 people in the clinical trial who caught COVID-19, 185 of them had received the placebo, while only 11 received the active vaccine. That works out to an effectiveness rate above 94%. Moderna is now the second vaccine maker to request authorization from the federal government after similarly positive results for Pfizer.
• Speaking of Pfizer: The first shipment of its COVID-19 vaccine was flown from Belgium to the U.S. on Friday in preparation for distribution upon authorization from the FDA. The U.K. is expected to OK use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, and hospitals will receive their first doses soon after.
• So, who can even get the vaccine? A CDC panel is scheduled to meet Tuesday to vote on who will have access to the first doses.
• "COVID-19 has turned every man, woman and child into a potential serial killer," writes columnist Michael J. Stern about the risks we take in a coronavirus world.
• And in the nation's largest hub: New York City's public schools will start offering in-person classes on Dec. 7, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday, changing course after closing them just weeks ago.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 13.4 million cases and over 267,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 63 million cases and 1.46 million deaths. Track the U.S. outbreak in your state.

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