Thursday morning, an advisory panel convened to decide whether the Food and Drug Administration

will approve the first coronavirus vaccine to be administered in the US.

This vaccine from Drug Manufacturer Pfizer and German firm BioNTech is one of two vaccines

submitted for approval by the FDA.

Dozens more are still being developed.

The potential approval of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is big news for our country, which

faces overtaxed intensive care units, hospitals running out of beds, and a growing number

of cases and deaths from the virus every day.

This week, for the first time since the pandemic began, the US reported more than 3,100 deaths

in a single day.

The need for a vaccine is urgent.

The Trump administration for months has boasted of its efforts to bring a vaccine to the

American people with unprecedented speed.

Now, it appears at least one vaccine is likely here.

Though at first, after it's approved, it will only be available to some health care

workers and nursing home residents and staff.

For most Americans, a vaccine likely won't be available until at least spring, which means

we have several more months before this pandemic can start to get under control.

The Trump administration has touted vaccine development as a major accomplishment in its

COVID-19 response.

As I've stated all along, and I guess as you saw pretty vividly, I heard about what

they were going to show prior to my coming.

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