The first injections of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine started to be administered on Dec. 21 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Dec. 18.

U.S. coronavirus deaths soared to a daily record of 3,580 and hospitalizations rose for the 19th straight day on Dec. 16, ramping up the stakes as regulators on Dec. 17 considered whether to approve a second Covid-19 vaccine.