CDC panel meets on Tuesday to vote on priority for COVID-19 vaccine

ATLANTA (AP) – A group of U.S. advisers will meet on Tuesday to vote on the scarcity of initial supplies of a COVID-19 vaccine once a vaccine has been approved.

The experts suggested giving the vaccine to health workers first. High priority can also be given to workers in essential industries, people with certain medical conditions, and people aged 65 and over.

Tuesday’s meeting is for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The expert panel recommends who to vaccinate and when – advice the government almost always follows. The agenda for next week’s emergency meeting was posted on Friday.

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize the emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Moderna Inc. is also expected to seek emergency use of its vaccine in the near future.

FDA science advisers are holding a public meeting on Dec. 10 to review Pfizer’s request and send a recommendation to the FDA.

Manufacturers have already started stockpiling doses of the coronavirus vaccine in anticipation of possible approval, but the first injections will be scarce and rationed.