Pfizer chair reveals tiny COVID vaccine detail that could greatly impact the course of the virus

Pfizer chairman Albert Bourla admitted that there is one aspect of the coronavirus that he is not sure the pharmaceutical company's COVID vaccine can mitigate which raises questions about how it could impact the spread of the virus.

Clips from the upcoming Dateline prime-time special titled, "Race for a Vaccine" have highlighted Bourla's remarks regarding the Pfizer vaccine's effectiveness in mitigating the spread of the virus. He admitted to host Lester Holt that he was "not certain" if the COVID vaccine would prevent the coronavirus from being transmitted.

"Even though I've had the protection, am I still able to transmit it to other people?"

"I think this is something that needs to be examined. We are not certain about that right now with what we know," Bourla responded.

Although the vaccine has shown promise with a 95% efficacy rate, Bourla's remarks do raise questions regarding how those immunized should move forward. Vaccine distribution and administration is another challenge states are facing as each state attempts to develop its own distribution strategy.

According to The Hill, the vaccine "must be delivered and stored in extreme sub-zero temperatures, which has heightened the demand for dry ice."

While federal and state officials appear to agree that the nation's 21 million frontline healthcare workers should be among the first in line to be vaccinated, it is still unclear who will follow. The latest updates about vaccine distribution come as the United States faces a grim uptick in coronavirus cases. As of Friday, Dec. 4, the United States has reported more than 14.6 million coronavirus cases, nationwide, with an average of more than 150,000 cases each day.

The country's death toll and rate also continues to rise. More than 275,000 people in the United States have lost their lives to coronavirus.