Health experts to vote on Tuesday to decide who will be first to get a coronavirus vaccine

 Scientists and public health experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will vote on Tuesday to decide who will be first people to get a coronavirus vaccine, once one is granted emergency authorisation.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss allocation of Covid-19 vaccines, according to a document obtained by CNN.

It is expected that they will decide healthcare workers will be in the first group, along with those most at risk, such as nursing home residents.

Members of the committee will discuss who should be in the first group, and clinical considerations for the group.

The advisers will also discuss how to monitor safety after allocation of the vaccine, according to the document.

Several vaccines - among them ones made by Pfizer and Moderna - have shown encouraging rates of effectiveness in clinical trials.

They are currently awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  The FDA is meeting on 10 December.

Donald Trump said on Thursday that delivery of the coronavirus vaccine would begin next week and the week after.  

Speaking to US troops overseas via video link to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Trump said the vaccine would initially be send to front-line workers, medical personnel and senior citizens.

States were told their allocation of the Pfizer vaccine last week said Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed - the US government’s programme to distribute and administer any vaccine.

Speaking to US troops overseas via video link to mark the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr Trump said the vaccine would initially be send to front-line workers, medical personnel and senior citizens.

States were told their allocation of the Pfizer vaccine last week said Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed - the US government’s programme to distribute and administer any vaccine.