US President-elect Joe Biden gets coronavirus vaccine live on TV

President-elect Joe Biden has received his first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. 

The Democrat leader says he was getting the jab to show Americans it is “safe to take”.

Mr. Biden got the jab live on TV from Newark, Delaware. He said, “I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine,” “There’s nothing to worry about.”

He said the Trump administration “deserves some credit” for launching the country’s vaccine program.

 The Biden team has set a goal of 100 million Covid-19 vaccinations in the US during the administration’s first 100 days in the White House.

 Mr. Biden also said that his wife Jill Biden has received her first dose earlier in the day. Vice-president Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff are likely to receive their first jab next week.

The roll-out had begun for a second vaccine by Moderna, which was approved last week. 

More than 500,000 Americans have reportedly received their vaccines so far. 

Who will get the vaccine first?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines for the next group of Americans to be eligible for vaccination.

Phase 1A: US vaccine distribution has 21 million healthcare workers and 3 million elders living in long-term care facilities. Vaccination for these groups has begun last week.

Phase 1B: Americans aged 75 and older, and frontline workers will be given in the next. This phase is expected to begin in January.

Phase 1C: Americans aged 65 and older, those with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe illness from Covid-19, and other essential non-frontline workers.