Coronavirus updates: 1st vaccines now on the way to all 50 US states
Two main trucks left the Pfizer facility on Sunday morning, the company said.
A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 71.5 million people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Latest headlines:
Germany reports record rise in deaths
A record 590 new fatalities were reported in Germany on Wednesday, beating the record previously set Tuesday of 568 new deaths, the Robert Koch-Institute reported.
Germany has now lost 19,932 lives to COVID-19.
"A reversal of this trend so far is not in sight," German Deputy Government spokesperson Martina Fietz said, adding that in some regions, hospitals are reaching their limits.
"With more than 4,200 people in intensive care, the number is considerably higher than in the spring," Fietz said.
Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke in parliament Wednesday, pleading with regional leaders to enforce tighter regulations to stop the spread.
Over 1.2 million people in Germany have been diagnosed.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Canada authorizes Pfizer vaccine
Canada has authorized the Pfizer vaccine, becoming the third country to do so after the United Kingdom and Bahrain.
Canada's health department said, "after a thorough, independent review of the evidence, Health Canada has determined that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine meets the Department's stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada."
A rollout date was not announced. Initial supplies will be limited with more doses available in the spring, officials said.
Health Canada is also reviewing another three vaccines.
ABC News' Kirit Radia and Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
Baltimore mayor shuts down indoor, outdoor dining
Baltimore will shut down indoor and outdoor dining beginning Friday, said Mayor Brandon Scott, who was sworn in on Tuesday.
Restaurants can offer takeout and delivery.
Scott’s order also sets a 25% capacity limit at retail stores, religious institutions, gyms and malls.
The new rules come as Maryland reported a record number of hospitalizations during the pandemic -- 1,715 patients -- surpassing the previous peak in April.
ABC News' Dee Carden contributed to this report.
Rudy Giuliani says he'll be discharged from hospital today
President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told WABC Radio that he'll be discharged from the hospital Wednesday afternoon following his COVID-19 diagnoses.
“I feel just about 100% right now," he said.
Giuliani said he will isolate for a few more days “because the way they calculate it, I probably got it [the virus] about seven, eight days ago.”
Seven days ago, Giuliani was in Michigan, testifying at the state's House Oversight Committee hearing for suspicion of voter fraud. The next day, he appeared at a hearing at the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee to contest that state's results.
ABC News' Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.
FDA ‘very comfortable’ with vaccine safety profile for 16, 17 year olds
Common questions surrounding the newly authorized Pfizer vaccine include safety for teenagers and the risk of allergic reactions.
Though the final data doesn’t have conclusive data on 16 and 17 year olds because they weren’t enrolled in trials until more recently, the FDA is “very comfortable with the safety profile that was observed in 17 and 16 year olds," Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, told reporters.
Regarding allergies, Marks said 1.6% of the population has had a severe allergic reaction.
Marks said you should notify your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to a vaccine and noted that sites that administer the vaccine will have medications on hand to respond to an allergic reaction.
ABC News’ Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.