ABC News expects the FDA to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on Friday, according to people familiar with the agency’s planning.

The exact timing of the announcement is not yet known.

But no vaccinations will start until the CDC director signs off. A hearing with the CDC’s independent advisory board is set for Nov. 2; the director is likely to sign off on the panel's recommendations that evening, with vaccinations likely beginning Nov. 3.

-ABC News' Eric M. Strauss

New York City's police department is 80% vaccinated after administering more than 1,000 shots on Thursday.

Nearly all municipal employees, including police officers, sanitation workers and firefighters, have until 5 p.m. Friday to submit proof of receiving at least one dose of vaccine. Those who don't get vaccinated will be placed on unpaid leave, starting Monday, for at least 30 days, and their future employment will be resolved in negotiations with individual labor unions.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea called reports of nearly half unvaccinated precincts  “certainly outdated” and said he's more concerned about filling “individual shifts” than staffing precincts.

"We will move resources around. We have had significant increase in people getting vaccinated in the past three days, and that’s the good news," Shea said on Channel 5. "New Yorkers should not, should not, be worried about this."

The FDNY's vaccination rate stands at 71%. The city's firefighters' unions organized an anti-vaccine mandate rally on Thursday.

-ABC News' Mark Crudele, Aaron Katersky, Meredith Ferrell

In recent weeks, cases have been creeping up in Alaska, Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont and Washington, according to federal data.

The nation's daily death average has dropped by about 36.3% in the last month, but it remains persistently high, around 1,150 new deaths reported each day.

Montana currently has the country's highest death rate, followed by Idaho and West Virginia, according to federal data.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, arguing that the vaccine mandate for federal contractors is "unconstitutional."

"Florida companies, public and private, receive millions of dollars in federal contracts annually and will be negatively impacted by the unlawful requirements," a statement from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said.

DeSantis said in a statement, "The federal government is exceeding their power and it is important for us to take a stand because in Florida we believe these are choices based on individual circumstances.”

The FDNY released updated data on the vaccination status of its members Sunday evening, two days after the city imposed a mandate on all public employees.

About 80% of all of the fire department's members are vaccinated -- 90% of civilian employees, 87% of EMTs and paramedics and 75% of firefighters -- the department said.

Last week, a group of firefighters, police officers and other public employees staged protests against Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate.

More than 2,000 of the 11,000 total firefighter personnel have been on medical leave at some point over the past week, according to the FDNY.

New York City Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro said no firehouses were closed as a result of the medical leaves, however, he issued a strong warning against any member who was deliberately skipping work.

"Irresponsible bogus sick leave by some of our members is creating a danger for New Yorkers and their fellow firefighters. They need to return to work or risk the consequences of their actions,” Nigro said in a statement.

-ABC News' Joshua Hoyos and Matt Foster and WABC's Morena Basterio