The Moderna vaccine may not be far behind Pfizer in getting FDA authorization, with an advisory panel set to discuss it this week.
Just as it did for Pfizer, an FDA advisory panel is meeting Thursday to decide whether to recommend if Moderna's vaccine should get emergency use authorization.
Once available, experts say people most likely will not have a choice which vaccine they get due to the massive effort it will take to get everyone vaccinated.
"The only reason is certain governmental agencies are going to have contracts to get different vaccines as they come out," says pediatrician Dr. John Zaso. "We know Northwell Health has the Pfizer contract, so they'll be distributing Pfizer. The Moderna and later on AstraZeneca may fall to local governments or states depending on how they set up their distribution. There's not going to be a choice of A, B or C type of thing."
Mount Sinai South Nassau's Dr. Aaron Glatt says the vaccines are an exciting development and have a great track record so far. Tests show both vaccines to be about 95% effective.
"It will take awhile -- we still have to mask and social distance -- but this is the way to get out of this pandemic. That's why this is so exciting. And the data showing how unbelievably safe they are is so impressive," says Glatt.
Moderna's vaccine can be refrigerated, while Pfizer's needs to be stored at -70 degrees. The government has preordered 100 million doses of Moderna's vaccine. If it gets FDA approval, Moderna says 20 million of those doses will be delivered within the next couple of weeks.