First round of U.S. COVID-19 vaccines could be available by Friday, if approved

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Food and Drug Administration will soon meet with drug maker Pfizer for a vote on whether to provide emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

If approved, distribution could begin as soon as the next day.

The United Kingdom is currently getting ready for its vaccine distribution, and their progress is giving people around the world some hope.

Read: Florida reports third day in a row with more than 10,000 new COVID-19 cases

Video: How Central Florida hospitals are preparing for COVID-19 vaccine approval Friday is the deadline for the state to hand over its distribution plans for the covid-19 vaccine to the federal government.

The prime minister of Wales, as well as other politicians from the U.K., announced they will begin vaccinating people on Tuesday, giving the country hope the Pfizer vaccine could help them start containing the coronavirus.

Back in the U.S., people are seeing this as a glimmer of hope, knowing that Pfizer vaccine is on the horizon here.

Doctors in Central Florida want people to know they trust the vaccine, and are encouraging residents to take it once it arrives.

Read: Coronavirus: How long between exposure to the virus and the start of symptoms?

“The speed did not compromise safety and scientific integrity of these vaccines,” said Dr. Aftab Khan.

The FDA is set to review the Pfizer vaccine Thursday, and leaders have said if all goes well in that meeting, millions of doses will be distributed within 24 hours.

Watch: Gov. Ron DeSantis unveils Florida’s COVID-19 vaccine plan; who will get it first?

Gov. Ron DeSantis was recently asked about the first available COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. and said, “Florida’s share would be at least a million, maybe as much as 2 million.”

DeSantis has already laid out his vaccine distribution plan.

See the full report in the video above.

Cox Media Group