By Beyza Binnur Donmez
ANKARA (AA) – US Health and Human Services (HSS) Secretary Alex Azar and top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci received a coronavirus vaccine Tuesday from Moderna.
The vaccinations were done as part of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) event where Director Francis Collins, Office of Research Services Director Colleen McGowan and health care workers also received the vaccine.
Before receiving the vaccine, Azar said that it fills him with "great pride" that the NIH and other parts of HHS "played such a significant role in developing this vaccine that will save thousands and thousands of lives."
"Americans can be confident in this vaccine, and each vaccine US Food and Drug Administration authorizes for COVID-19," he said. "I have complete confidence in the safety and efficacy of these vaccines."
The vaccine was administered to Azar following six health care workers.
Fauci said he considers it "an honor" to be part of the process. "What we are seeing now is the culmination of years of research, which is unprecedented," he said.
Each person who was vaccinated will receive a second dose in about one month.
Moderna became the second coronavirus vaccine after getting the green light Friday from the Food and Drug Administration in the US. A Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine was previously approved earlier this month.
The US has registered more than 18 million coronavirus-related cases and nearly 320,000 deaths, according to a running tally by the Johns Hopkins University.
