US to start vaccination drive today; Bahrain approves China vaccine

The United States is set to begin its coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination drive from Monday with doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine set to reach all hospitals and other sites. The United States, which tops the list of the worst-hit countries from the pandemic, has so far registered over 16.7 million cases and 306,459 deaths, according to worldometers.info figures.

India, on the other hand has issued operational guidelines to all states and Union Territories (UTs) with regard to vaccine distribution. While Pakistan, which is witnessing a surge in coronavirus re-infections at various health centres has increased its funds allocated for purchasing vaccines from $150 million to $ 250 million.

Here are the latest updates on the Covid-19 vaccine development: 

1. The United States will begin its vaccination program from today. Senior government officials, including those who work in close proximity to President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other top leaders would be administered doses of Pfizer’s vaccine as soon as possible. This comes after a top official told news agency AFP that the pharmaceutical firm’s vaccine would reach hospitals and other sites across the United States.