As we’ve continued to see health and safety regulations increase in theme parks, airports, and more, we’ve been keeping our eye on everything happening with the current health crisis.

Over the past week, however, major news has dropped about the upcoming vaccine that has been in the works this year.

The New York Times has reported that the Food and Drug Association (or FDA) has approved Pfizer’s vaccine for emergency use. After this ruling, the United States will become the sixth country — including Britain, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico — to approve the vaccine, as other places like the European Union are expected to come to the same decision within the next few weeks.

The first round of vaccines will be available within the upcoming days as Pfizer, state and local health officials, the military, hospitals, pharmacies, and private shipping companies work together to coordinate the first three million doses. Health care workers and nursing home residents will be among the primary patients to receive the vaccine. Florida’s first recipients will be hospitals in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Hollywood.

Pfizer is also working to supply an additional 100 million doses to the United States by next March with free shots available to the public. The McKesson Corporation will also be sending kits of face shields, syringes, alcohol pads, and other safety supplies to the same vaccine sites. The boxes with the vaccines will have tracking devices and thermal probes to make sure that they stay at the correct temperature during travel.

Officials have stated that half of the 6.4 million doses available will be held back to use as booster shots for recipients three weeks after their first vaccination. While only 3 million people will receive the vaccine at first, they hope to supply 20 million people with the first dose of the vaccine by the end of the year.

As Pfizer has their vaccine approved, Moderna’s upcoming vaccine is currently under review by the FDA. If it’s cleared for emergency use, it could supply another 100 million doses. Additional vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca are in late-stage trials to possibly be authorized over the next few months.

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, issued a video to celebrate the vaccine’s approval as California receives their first 327,600 doses soon.

BREAKING: The FDA has just authorized the Pfizer #COVID19 vaccine for emergency use.

CA expects to receive our initial allotment of 327,600 doses as early as this weekend. pic.twitter.com/VETmUBufOq

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 12, 2020

As more news is provided about the vaccine, we’ll be sure to update you with all the information you need to know.

Have you traveled to theme parks recently? Let us know in the comments below!