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Coronavirus Watch: FDA likely to authorize Moderna vaccine today

Rachel Aretakis   | Paste BN

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence received the COVID-19 vaccine Friday morning.

"Karen and I hope this step today will be a source of confidence and of comfort to the American people," Pence said. "These days of hardship and heartbreak will, in a day not too far in the future, be put in the past."

This is Friday's Coronavirus Watch. Here are the latest updates, as of 1:30 p.m. ET: 

  • FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn is expected to authorize Moderna's vaccine today, and delivery could begin nationwide by Monday.
  • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was given the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to do the same in the coming days as part of an effort to convince Americans the shots are safe and effective.
  • California reported 3% intensive care unit bed availability on Thursday. Hospitals in Southern California are facing the brunt of it as ICU capacity dropped to 0%, state data showed. 
  • The two health care workers in Alaska who experienced adverse reactions just 10 minutes after receiving the vaccine were released from a hospital in Juneau on Thursday, according to the Anchorage Daily News. One worker experienced anaphylaxis and was hospitalized for two nights, while the second had a mild reaction and was released after about an hour.
  • Johnson & Johnson said Thursday it had completed enrollment for its phase 3 clinical trial for its vaccine with 45,000 participants. The company said it hopes to release interim data by the end of January.
  • United Airlines officials confirmed Friday that a passenger who fell ill on one of its flights Monday and later died had COVID-19 symptoms. The flight from Orlando to Los Angeles diverted to New Orleans on Monday night for the medical emergency, and United said the passenger died at the hospital.

Today's numbers: The U.S. has 17.2 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 311,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 75 million cases and 1.6 million deaths. 

What we're reading: A balanced immune system is key to protect your body from illness. We walk you through how to strengthen your immune system this winter.

– Rachel Aretakis, breaking news editor, @raretakis

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