Press Releases

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today released the following statement in reaction to the news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine:

The FDA’s authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine is monumental news for our nation. I trust that Maine’s leaders are prepared to begin distributing the vaccine quickly, efficiently, and equitably. As manufacturing ramps up, our most vulnerable neighbors and frontline health care workers will receive the first doses. We must be patient, continue to wear masks, and practice social distancing – these efforts are more important than ever now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

 This is a dark time for our nation. We’re setting devastating new records for coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, and deaths every day. Still, we can’t lose sight of this momentous victory for science and human ingenuity. The development even one highly effective vaccine in less than a year – and we’re likely to see more – is one of the greatest advancements of our lifetimes. I commend the global scientific community for their brilliance and dedication.

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