CA Approves Moderna Vaccine Amid 'Darkest Days' Of The Pandemic

CALIFORNIA — Moderna's coronavirus vaccine was given the official go-ahead from the Western States' Scientific Workgroup Sunday. The Golden State is expected to receive some 672,660 doses this week — and with open arms, as the state experiences its worst bout of the COVID-19 surge.

Distribution for Moderna's vaccine began in the United States on Sunday, less than 72 hours after the Food and Drug Administration approved it for emergency use.

“While California is in some of the darkest days of our COVID-19 surge, with too many families grieving lost loved ones, there is light as more vaccines are approved for distribution," Newsom said Sunday.

The state was also expected to get an additional 230,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, most of which will be allocated to front-line healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

And unlike the Pfizer product, Moderna does not require ultra-cold storage, making it an easier vaccine to store and move. Moderna's product can also be placed in more compact containers, holding 100 doses each.

"This allows jurisdictions the flexibility to support hard to reach small and more rural areas," Gen. Gustave F. Perna, the chief operating officer for Operation Warp Speed, told reporters Saturday.

Both vaccines have shown around 95 percent efficacy, with Moderna showing 94.1 percent effectiveness at preventing COVID-19. Moderna, like Pfizer, is a two-dose vaccine.

Data processed by the FDA suggested that Moderna's vaccine could reduce community spread by preventing infections and perhaps slightly more so than Pfizer.

Both vaccines have caused side effects similar to a flu shot, but Moderna's vaccine has reportedly caused slightly more side effects. Both have caused fevers, aches and chills.

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These side effects are a sign of the immune system kicking into gear and do not necessarily signal that the vaccine is unsafe, according to a report from Stat News of the vaccines.

Does this mean Californians should try to pick between Moderna and Pfizer? Not at all, according to Ken Kelley, a biotech executive and former senior advisor on the federal government’s Pandemic Preparedness and Vaccine at a Commonwealth Club event.

"Get the first vaccine you can get, as soon as possible. Don’t comparison shop," Kelley said, according to the Mercury News.

While the news that Moderna vaccines are en route will not reverse the state's most dire surge in cases yet, it could signal the beginning of the end. But California public health officials are urging residents to stay on course for social distancing and preventative measures.

"Until vaccines are available more widely across the state, it’s critical that all Californians do their part to stop the surge by staying at home and wearing a mask when leaving home for essential work and needs,” Newsom wrote in a statement Sunday.

Our Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup confirmed today the Moderna #COVID19 vaccine is safe for public use.

CA is expecting 672,000 doses to begin arriving this week. pic.twitter.com/6NfXqhn57K
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 20, 2020

New coronavirus cases were still on the rise in California last week, jumping 38.9 percent as 293,381 cases were reported, according to data from the state and analysis from the Desert Sun. The previous week had 211,235 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19, the analysis found.

California also ranked No. 2 among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, according to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.

The state reported 46,474 new cases of coronavirus Sunday, adding to a total of 1,854,456, crawling eerily close to a 2 million case milestone. Cases also increased 2.6 percent from Saturday.

Some 161 COVID-19 related deaths were reported Sunday, adding to a death toll of 22,593.

Intensive care units across the state continued to experience an onslaught of ill patients Saturday, with both the Southern California and San Joaquin regions at zero percent capacity in ICU beds.

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