FDA Issues Emergency Approval , for Pfizer COVID Vaccine.<br />'The New York Times' reports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the approval on Friday night.<br />An initial 2.9 million doses will be shipped around the U.S. over the next week.<br />The FDA had intended <br />to issue approval for <br />use of the vaccine <br />beginning on Saturday.<br />White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows <br />reportedly gave an ultimatum to the <br />head of the FDA, Dr. Stephen M. Hahn:.<br />The agency either issue approval for <br />the vaccine by the end of day on Friday, <br />or Hahn would be removed from his position.<br />Dr. Hahn denies <br />the phone call with <br />Meadows occurred.<br />Both the U.K. and Canada began <br />vaccinating its citizens this week. <br />Russia began its vaccination program last weekend.<br />The COVID death toll in the U.S. was nearly 295,000<br />on Friday. More than 15.75 million people <br />have tested positive with the virus
