The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has begun worldwide, with many countries starting their vaccination rollouts in December 2020. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines are among the leading vaccines being distributed. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 11, 2020, and the Moderna vaccine on December 18, 2020.
The CDC has recommended healthcare workers and long-term care facility residents to receive the vaccine first. The United Kingdom began vaccinating citizens on December 8, 2020, becoming the first Western country to roll out a vaccine. Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old woman, received the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Canada began its vaccination rollout on December 14, 2020, starting with healthcare workers and long-term care residents. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated the goal is to have all Canadians vaccinated by September 2021.
In Europe, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended granting conditional marketing authorization on December 21, 2020, for Germay News Today the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which paves the way for the vaccine to be distributed across the European Union. Italy began vaccinating its citizens on December 27, 2020, starting with healthcare workers and elders in care homes.