The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to grant emergency use authorization to Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine today.

On Thursday, the FDA's independent advisory committee voted overwhelmingly, 20-0, with one abstention, to recommend approval of the vaccine.

If the FDA gives final approval of Moderna's vaccine, nearly 6 million doses could begin shipping out soon after.

Just like Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine, the first recipients will be front-line workers and residents in long-term care facilities

Moderna's vaccine doesn't require the same extreme cold storage as Pfizer's, so it's slated for broader distribution to more than 3,000 sites across the country.

This morning, News 12's Elizabeth Hashagen was joined by Rachel Elsberry, a participant in the Moderna vaccine trials, and Dr. Sharon Nachman to discuss what happens next in the search for a cure.

Elsberry talks about how she felt about being part of the trial:

This morning, we have also learned that Moderna will offer its vaccine to trial participants who received a placebo during clinical trials. Here's what that means - people who participated in the trials will be given the option of finding out if they've been vaccinated, if not, they can receive the vaccine.

Or participants can remain blinded, to help Moderna track the long-term effects of its vaccine, during its two-year trial. Blinding is the standard for trial, but Moderna tells the FDA it can gather data with COVID-19 tests instead. This is what Dr. Nachman discusses what she thinks of this decision:

Dr. Nachman will be receiving the Pfizer vaccine this morning, below is how she feels:

Elsberry talks about the blinded vaccine trial, and the relief she felt after learning she had COVID-19 antibodies:

The recommendation to approve Moderna's vaccine came on the same day the U.S. set another new record for COVID-19 hospitalizations. The COVID Tracking Project says 114,000 Americans were hospitalized Thursday for treatment of COVID-19 symptoms. It's the 16th straight day the U.S. has remained at about 100,000 hospitalizations. Below is what Dr. Nachman is seeing in the hospitals:

Shortly after doses of Pfizer's vaccine were first administered in the U.K., we heard reports of two people having allergic reactions. In the U.S., a health care worker in Alaska was hospitalized after getting the shot.

But a key COVID-19 adviser for President-elect Joe Biden says an allergic reaction is a small price to pay for protection against COVID-19. Do the pros outweigh the cons? Dr. Nachman answers this question below:

Vice President Mike Pence, second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Members of Congress will also be vaccinated today, and President-elect Joe Biden will get the shot next week.

It comes as our leaders try to instill confidence in the vaccine, and encourage people across the country to get the shot.

What needs to happen to instill confidence on the vaccine from people? This is what Dr. Nachman had to say: