미 FDA 자문위, 모더나백신 사용 권고…두번째 백신접종 초읽기<br /><br />Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is one step away from distribution in the U.S. as outside experts endorsed the use of the vaccine.<br />This will be the second vaccine to be rolled out in the country, which is the hardest hit by the pandemic.<br />Our Kim Do-yeon has the details.<br />Outside experts of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration endorsed Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday... paving the way for distribution.<br />Following the announcement, the FDA is expected to give emergency use authorization as soon as late Thursday or early Friday, local time.<br />The panel voted 20 to 0, an overwhelming decision to say it's safe for recipients aged 18 or older.<br />The head of the panel showed his excitement over the successful results of the study.<br />"And congratulations to us all for achieving this emergency use authorization for a second vaccine which along with other events will eventually and sooner will break the back of the pandemic."<br />Once the FDA gives final approval for emergency use, the related officials will start distribution.<br />Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine, which rolled out earlier this week, Moderna's vaccine is easier to store and distribute.<br />Moderna says its vaccine "remains stable at -20 degrees Celsius for up to six months, at refrigerated conditions for up to 30 days and at room temperature for up to 12 hours."<br />The vaccine is also known to have a similar effectiveness as Pfizer's at around 95 percent.<br />With Pfizer's and Moderna's both being rolled out, U.S. officials expect 40 million people will get their 1st dose of the vaccines by the end of the year.<br />The first wave of recipients will be front-line healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes.<br />Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
