Donald Trump says US has approved Moderna vaccine of which UK has ordered 7m doses

The President said the second coronavirus inoculation, made by the American firm has been approved for use in the country.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made no public announcement yet regarding its decision.

He tweeted: "Moderna vaccine overwhelmingly approved. Distribution to start immediately."

The UK Government, meanwhile, has secured seven million doses of the jab - enough to vaccinate about 3.5 million people, while it awaits British approval.

The FDA had not yet authorised emergency use of the vaccine, a Bloomberg reporter said on Twitter, citing the agency.

The FDA and Moderna did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A panel of outside FDA advisers met to discuss Moderna's vaccine on Thursday and an agency decision was expected as soon as today.

The panel had endorsed its use with a 20-0 vote, and one abstention, that the vaccine's benefits outweighed its risks.

The Moderna vaccine developed using technology similar to Pfizer-BioNTech is likely to be one of next to receive approval, but the British government waited until late-stage results were published in November to order 7 million doses.

Britain does not expect to take delivery of the first doses until early spring 2021, which the government says is the same timetable as other countries in Europe.

However, a mass roll-out of the Pfizer vaccine has already begun, after the UK became the first nation to approve it earlier this month.

Trump also tweeted: "Europe and other parts of the World being hit hard by the China Virus - Germany, France, Spain and Italy, in particular. The vaccines are on their way!!!"

US deaths from Covid-19 topped 3,000 for a third straight day, with a record number of new infections on Thursday.

The country reported a record 239,903 new cases yesterday, raising the cumulative number above 17 million since the coronavirus pandemic began nearly a year ago.

The FDA authorised the first vaccine from Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech SE a week ago.

Both vaccines require two doses, given three or four weeks

apart, for each person inoculated.

Health authorities have sought to reassure Americans that

large-scale clinical trials and scientific review found the

vaccines to be safe and effective.

Vice President Mike Pence will receive the coronavirus

vaccine in public on Friday, becoming the highest-profile

recipient to date to receive a the vaccine.

While departing President Trump has yet to embrace

messages about social distancing and mask-wearing, he has

encouraged people to get vaccinated.

President-elect Joe Biden, set to take office on January 20,

will publicly get the vaccine next week, according to transition officials.

Mirror