US FDA Advisory Committee Recommends Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccine... Vaccinations Expected Next Week (Comprehensive)

Shipping starts immediately after FDA approval... Delivery within 24 hours
Vaccinations begin early next week after CDC advisory committee approval on the 13th
Vaccine transport overlaps with Christmas and year-end holiday deliveries

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an advisory body to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has recommended the emergency use authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. Accordingly, vaccinations are expected to begin in the U.S. as early as next week. U.S. delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx, participating in the government's vaccine transportation project called 'Operation Warp Speed,' have also announced that they will prioritize vaccine deliveries over regular parcels. However, concerns have been raised that a logistics crisis could occur amid already overwhelmed delivery volumes ahead of Christmas and the year-end holidays.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press, on the 10th (local time), VRBPAC, the FDA advisory committee, recommended emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. After reviewing the agenda for Pfizer's vaccine emergency use authorization, VRBPAC voted with 17 in favor, 4 against, and 1 abstention to recommend approval.

The FDA is expected to grant emergency use authorization on the same day or on the 11th based on VRBPAC's recommendation. Once the FDA grants emergency use authorization, vaccine distribution will begin. However, to start vaccinations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must additionally recommend approval for vaccination. ACIP's review and vote on vaccination are scheduled for the 13th, so actual vaccinations are expected to begin early next week.

The vaccine transportation project, Operation Warp Speed, is also expected to be fully activated. U.S. delivery companies such as UPS and FedEx participating in the operation have stated that they will prioritize vaccine transportation. According to CNBC, Wesley Wheeler, head of UPS Global Healthcare, told the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, "Above all, vaccine delivery is the top priority," and that vaccine transportation will be prioritized over other goods. Richard Smith, Vice President of FedEx, who also attended, said, "We will work as a team with UPS to fully commit to vaccine transportation services."

However, concerns remain that delivery companies may reach their limits as vaccine deliveries coincide with the year-end shopping season. According to CNN, online orders have surged amid the COVID-19 situation, with approximately 3 billion general delivery items received so far, about 800 million more than last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.