Black Doctors COVID Consortium 17-year-old volunteer gets coronavirus vaccine

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A 17-year-old volunteer with the Black Doctors Covid Consortium in Philadelphia received the coronavirus vaccine on Sunday.

Kayla Foy is hoping her story will encourage more people to do the same.

Foy helps with data collection for the consortium, which tests at-risk communities for COVID-19 for free.

Foy tells Action News she hopes to inspire people her age and in the Black community to get vaccinated.

"I think people my age are also listening to their parents, their parents might be unsure about taking the vaccine. So they're like, 'If my parents aren't sure than I'm not sure.' But I just want people to know that it's ok, I'm ok, I'm doing great so far," she said.

The teen says she felt "fine" and "excited" after receiving the vaccine.

Initial shipments of the second COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the U.S. left a distribution center Sunday, a desperately needed boost as the nation works to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.

The trucks left the factory in the Memphis area with the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health. The much-needed shots are expected to be given starting Monday, just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized their emergency rollout.

Later Sunday, an expert committee will debate who should be next in line for early doses of the Moderna vaccine and a similar one from Pfizer Inc. and Germany's BioNTech. Pfizer's shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day, kicking off the nation's biggest vaccination drive.

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The pioneering work for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, which was granted emergency use authorization by the FDA, and the Pfizer vaccine began at the University of Pennsylvania more than a decade ago.

Temple Health is on the forefront of a number of COVID-19 clinical trials. They are running both inpatient and outpatient and need recruits.

Restaurant workers have been fighting for COVID-19 testing for themselves and their families since the pandemic started, and now, the coalition Save Philly Restaurants has secured it.

Thirty-thousand people participated in the clinical trial to test Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, and many were here in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael Pearson, 58 of Philadelphia, says participating in pandemic research is personal for him. He lost a cousin due to complications of COVID-19.

The first of many freezer-packed COVID-19 vaccine vials made their way to distribution sites across the United States on Sunday, as the nation's pandemic deaths approached the horrifying new milestone of 300,000. Frontline workers, including hospital employees, will be among the first to be vaccinated in Pennsylvania.

December 12 begins another version of a shutdown across the commonwealth. The coronavirus-related restrictions took effect on 12:01 a.m. and will last through 8 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2021.

Gov. Wolf provides update on health after testing positive for COVID-19

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf is continuing to recover at home after testing positive for the coronavirus this week. While announcing new COVID-19 restrictions in the commonwealth on Thursday, Wolf said he first tested positive Tuesday.

In 2016, Wolf was diagnosed with a treatable form of prostate cancer. A year later he received a clean bill of health. Experts say his cancer should play a minor or even no role in his recovery. Dr. Alexander Kutikov, the Chief of Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, says data shows a positive outcome for the governor is high.

Delaware Valley health officials prepare for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

'This wave is worse': Emergency room nurse warns about COVID-19 dangers

In her eight years of nursing, Julia Kristen has never seen anything like this.

"I just can't get over how bad it is," said Kristen, who is a registered nurse working in the emergency room of Einstein Hospital. "Just one after another patient coming in so sick."

Fauci: Expect similar COVID travel restrictions, advisories for Christmas holiday

Americans should expect more COVID-related restrictions and advisories for the Christmas holiday, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert.

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