Today, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee of the FDA is meeting to review the second potential COVID-19 vaccine to get an FDA Emergency Use Authorization.   Earlier this week, FDA scientists endorsed the vaccine.

Moderna is seeking an EUA for its vaccine, to be used for those 18 years and older, given in two doses, 1 month apart.

The public may watch the livestream of the committee’s discussions today, beginning at 4 a.m. HST (9 a.m. EST), or watch it on You Tube.  Click here for details on how to view the meeting.  The meeting is slated to go until 1 p.m. HST (6 p.m. EST) but will likely not adjourn the meeting until the Committee has reached its decision on whether to recommend that the FDA approval the EUA request by Moderna.

It is widely anticipated that the Committee will approve the EUA.  If it does, the Moderna vaccine will begin shipping immediately, including to Hawaii.  The State Department of Health says it has ordered 12,000 doses immediately but expects to get at least 36,000 by the end of the month.

For the FDA’s briefing document on today’s meeting about the Moderna vaccine, click here.