Healthcare workers and those living in nursing homes are expected to begin receiving the Moderna coronavirus vaccine Monday.
This is the second vaccine approved for emergency use.
The first shipments of the Moderna vaccine left a distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi Sunday.
And Operation Warp Speed officials say another 5.9 million doses of the Moderna vaccine are also expected to be shipped out Monday.
Both FedEx and UPS will work to distribute the vaccine.
Joe Stephens, Senior V.P. of global engineering and planning at Fed Ex, says, “It’s a sense of excitement. We can stand here for days and talk about all of the stories and just how proud all of the team members feel for being able to participate in this historical moment and really help bring a sense of hope.”
Like Pfizer’s vaccine, Moderna’s version requires two doses several weeks apart.
A newly discovered and apparently more contagious strain of the coronavirus is causing much of England to go into another strict lockdown.
The British government is now warning that the new strain of the virus is “out of control.”
Nonessential businesses will stay closed at least until the end of the month.
Many European countries including Italy, France and Germany have placed a travel ban on the United Kingdom.
About a month ago, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he believed families would be able to gather for Christmas following the lockdown that began in November.
But now he is changing his stance.
“It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” Johnson said.
Health officials in the UK say even though the new strain of the coronavirus does spread faster, it doesn’t make people sicker.
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