A version of this story appeared in the December 16 edition of CNN's Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction newsletter. Sign up here to receive the need-to-know headlines every weekday.
Rich countries have reserved just over half (51%) of the most promising vaccines, while low- and middle-income countries will have to share the remainder -- despite being home to more than 85% of the world's population, according to a new report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US.
At the time the report was written, the US accounted for one-fifth of all global Covid-19 cases but had reserved 800 million doses of vaccine. Japan, Australia and Canada accounted for fewer than 1% of cases but had options on more than 1 billion doses.
It is yet another reminder that initial global demand will vastly outstrip supply -- a reality that has given rise to vaccine nationalism and prompted concerns about inequitable allocation of doses.
But even the rich countries that have stockpiled vaccines still may not be able to roll them out fast enough to end the pandemic any time soon. Less than half of the United Kingdom will be vaccinated against Covid-19 in 2021, according to a spending watchdog report detailing distribution concerns.
That's a long way off from the proportion of the population that needs to get vaccinated in order to offer widespread protection against the coronavirus: 80%.
As the pandemic worsens into the winter months -- wreaking havoc in countries like South Korea and Germany, two nations once praised for their handling of the virus -- the race is on for governments to approve and roll out vaccines.
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWERED.
Q: When can I get a coronavirus vaccine?
A: Millions of health care workers and residents of nursing homes across the US may get immunized against the virus before the end of the year. But it will take months before the rest of Americans get a shot in their arm.
Healthy adults under the age of 65 and children may well have to wait until late spring or even the summer, depending on how many vaccines get approved, how quickly they can be manufactured and distributed, and how the debate goes over allocation.
We've broken down who might get vaccinated and when in this handy calendar.
Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you're facing: +1 347-322-0415.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TODAY
FDA likely to approve emergency use of the Moderna vaccine this week
The US Food and Drug Administration will hopefully approve emergency use of the Moderna vaccine among adults aged 18 and older this week, Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientific adviser to the federal government's Operation Warp Speed, said on Tuesday.
Moderna's shot has a significant practical advantage over the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, which started its rollout across the US this week. Moderna's vaccine can be kept at minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit), as opposed to 75 degrees Celsius (minus 103 degrees Fahrenheit) for Pfizer's vaccine.
It could also have another leg up on rival Pfizer. In an addendum to its FDA submission, Moderna said its coronavirus shots don't just prevent symptomatic disease, but can prevent infection in the first place.
Here's how Europe is handling a Covid-19 Christmas
Europe is preparing for a Christmas season like no other, as governments desperately try to thread the needle between preserving public health and allowing families to gather for traditional celebrations at the end of a tough year.
Countries across the continent are taking varied approaches, even as Covid-19 cases continue to rise in some nations.
Austria is opening ski resorts with limited capacity from Christmas Eve -- for locals only. Italy has banned movement between regions during the Christmas holidays, to contain the spread of the virus. And the UK is planning to allow people from three households to meet in a "Christmas bubble" between December 23 to 27 -- at least for now. Check out a full list of rules for the festive period here.
South Korea warns of first potential lockdown as coronavirus numbers continue to rise
South Korean health officials have warned residents to take current restrictions seriously, as the country faces the possibility of entering into its first potential lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic amid an alarming rise in new infections.
Long considered a model country for its effective response to multiple waves of the virus, South Korea has managed to avoid the type of stringent lockdown measures seen elsewhere in the world, thanks largely to a combination of aggressive testing and sophisticated track and trace techniques.
But as the pandemic drags on into winter, the emergence of a so-called "third wave" has resulted in an apparently untraceable rise in new infections.
ON OUR RADAR
- Hundreds of timber vaccination pavilions, adorned with a flower graphic meant to symbolize regeneration, are set to be installed around Italy from January as the country starts immunizing its population.
- Congressional leaders in both parties expressed growing confidence Tuesday evening that Washington will be able to cut a last-ditch deal to provide relief to Americans hit hard by the impacts of the pandemic.
- Vice President Mike Pence is likely to receive the coronavirus vaccine by Friday, two sources familiar with the plans tell CNN. While Dr. Anthony Fauci has recommended that President Donald Trump get the vaccine, he's yet to receive a shot.
- A new survey suggests that 71% of Americans say they will "definitely or probably" get a Covid-19 vaccine.
- The FDA has authorized the first fully at-home test as more Covid-19 patients are hospitalized than ever before. https://ift.tt/3noCSdW
As Americans eagerly await their turn to receive a Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, the FBI is warning against dangerous scams and misinformation about its distribution.
Wondering how to spot a coronavirus vaccine con? The Better Business Bureau has these tips:
- Do your research: Be skeptical of anything that seems too good to be true, and check against official sources.
- Discuss with your doctor: If you want a vaccine early, reach out to your doctor or healthcare provider to discuss your options, or check out the official website of your local health department.
- Ignore calls for immediate action: Scammers try to get you to act quickly before you think. Don't let a sense of urgency cloud your judgement.
- Double check the URL: Scammers often buy official-looking URLs to use in their cons. When in doubt, do a quick internet search for the website.
TODAY'S PODCAST
"Vaccinations are really a telltale sign of how the public feels about the government ... as well as their sense of obligation to each other." -- Katie A. Cahill, Associate Director of the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Covid-19 vaccine distribution is finally rolling out, but some Americans are still skeptical. CNN Correspondent Elle Reeve travels to rural Tennessee to hear people's concerns and speak with medical and policy experts about how to overcome vaccine hesitancy through building trust. Listen Now.
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