Sandra Lindsay, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is given a Coronavirus vaccination by Dr. Michelle Chester, Queens, New York, December 14, 2020 (Mark Lennihan)

UPDATE, DEC 16:

The US death reached 303,797 on Tuesday, an increase of 3,318 in 24 hours.

The daily toll is the second-highest in the pandemic, after 3,343 last Friday.

Confirmed cases are 16,717,104, with 197,512 yesterday. Hospitalizations rose to a record 112,816.

After weeks of stalemate, there appeared to be some movement in Congressional talks for a stimulus package.

Talks among Republican and Democratic leaders continued until 10 p.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who blocked any bill before the November 3 election, appeared to shift his position. He said, “We’re making significant progress”, encouraged that legislators are “going to be able to complete an understanding sometime soon.”

McConnell indicated that if Democrats agreed to defer aid to states, he would drop his demand for protection of businesses against any cases brought by workers over Coronavirus.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi summarized, “We’re talking about going forward. Tomorrow, we’ll be back early, and we’ll be on schedule to get the job done.”

The two sessions included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin joined both sessions by phone, and spoke with Pelosi for more than an hour before the first meeting.

UPDATE, DEC 15:

The US death toll has passed 300,000.

As the first vaccinations were administered on Monday, the toll reached 300,479 with 1,311 fatalities in 24 hours. Confirmed cases are 16,519,616, an increase of 256,397 — one of the largest in the pandemic.

Hospitalizations rose to a record 110,549.

UPDATE, DEC 14:

The first shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Coronavirus left a Michigan plant early Sunday.

The initial doses will be administered to health care workers and residents of nursing homes.

Gen. Gustave Perna, overseeing the Government’s effort to develop a vaccine, said 145 sites are due to receive the vaccine on Monday, 425 on Tuesday, and 66 on Wednesday.

The Trump Administration was also planning to inoculate White House staff, given the high incidence of the virus amid Donald Trump’s “super-spreader” events. However, after news broke of the plan, Trump tweeted that the vaccinations will be delayed.

Trump did not explain why he changed the plan, or was even aware of it before Sunday night.

The US death toll reached 299,168 on Sunday, an increase of 1,331. Confirmed cases are 16,253,219 with 186,188 in 24 hours. Hospitalizations are at a record 109,331 with 21,231 patients in intensive care.

UPDATE, DEC 13:

The US death toll rose to 297,837, an increase of 2,315 on Saturday. Confirmed cases are 16,067,031, with 216,017 in 24 hours. Hospitalizations are at a record 108,047 with 21,191 patients in intensive care.

ORIGINAL ENTRY, DEC 12: After the White House threatened the dismissal of its head Stephen Hahn, the Food and Drug Administration grants emergency authorization for the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for Coronavirus.

The US death toll reached 295,522 on Friday, a record increase of 3,343. Confirmed cases are 15,851,014, with 234,633 in 24 hours. Hospitalizations are at a record 108,108, with 21,010 patients in intensive care.

The FDA was scheduled to issue the authorization on Saturday, but on Friday morning White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told Hahn to consider looking for another job if the approval was not completed by the end of the day, according to “a senior Administration official“.

Hahn denied that he was threatened with dismissal. However, telling journalists of a “robust discussion” which “encouraged [us] to continue working expeditiously”, he ordered regulators to act immediately.

Medical Process v. Trump Ego

Donald Trump, trying to claim credit amid the “surge upon a surge” of the virus and blows to his attempts to overturn the US election, pronounced that the first inoculation would occur on Saturday.

In practice, Pfizer, private shipping companies, state and local health officials, the military, hospitals, and pharmacy chains are racing to get 3 million doses — enough for 1 1/2 million Americans — to health care workers and nursing home residents this week.

The vaccine has been more than 90% effective in trials, but must be stored at a temperature of -70 degrees Celsius (-94 degrees Fahrenheit).

The accelerated FDA announcement is not expected to advance the timetable for delivery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which meets at 11 a.m. Washington time on Saturday, must give formal approval before the process can begin.

The Administration has bought 100 million doses from Pfizer. However, despite repeated offers from the company, the White House turned down the opportunity for an additional 100 million to 500 million doses this summer.

Had the Administration accepted the highest amount, 300 million Americans could have been vaccinated in the coming months.

Trump has accused the FDA and Pfizer of undermining his re-election by withholding announcement of trial results and approval until after the November 3 vote.

On Friday morning, he issued a Twitter demand to Hahn:

For months, allies of Hahn have expected Trump’s dismissal of the FDA Commissioner. In August, Trump declared that the FDA was part of a “Deep State” conspiracy to remove him from office — an outburst that pushed Hahn into falsely announcing the effectiveness of convalescent plasma as a treatment for Coronavirus.

TrumpWatch, Day 1,317: Coronavirus — FDA in Turmoil After Trump’s “Deep State” Conspiracy Theory

Meanwhile, the Government announced that it had ordered another 100 million doses of a vaccine produced by Moderna, adding to a summer deal for 100 million doses. The Moderna version is under review by the FDA, with the prospect of emergency authorization for use.

Officials are hoping that, between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, at least 20 million American can receive their first of two doses by end of the year.