A day after an advisory panel recommended the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Friday approved it as the second vaccine to fight the pandemic.

"The emergency use authorization allows the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to be distributed in the US for use in individuals 18 years of age and older," said the agency in a statement.

The panel on Thursday voted 20-0 with one abstention, paving the way for a final green light from the FDA for use of the vaccine.

Moderna is the second coronavirus vaccine in the US after Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine, which was authorized by the FDA last week.