SILVER SPRING, Maryland: A panel of outside advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration is expected to endorse emergency use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine during a meeting on Thursday (Dec 17), as the nation prepares to roll out a second vaccine.

The panel vote on whether the vaccine's benefits outweigh its risks is likely to come some time after 3pm ET (4am, Singapore time, Friday), with an FDA authorisation expected as soon as Friday.