The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, with the first inoculations expected within days, the FDA said in a statement.

"The FDA's authorization for emergency use of the first COVID-19 vaccine is a significant milestone in battling this devastating pandemic that has affected so many families in the United States and around the world," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn.

During the previous large-stage trial, the vaccine proved to be 95 percent effective in preventing the coronavirus disease.

With the emergency clearance, the U.S. becomes the latest country to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The vaccine was first approved in Britain earlier this month. 

The FDA said the vaccine can be given to people aged 16 and older. Healthcare workers and elderly people in long-term care facilities in U.S. are expected to be the main recipients of a first round of 2.9 million doses. 

Millions of Americans could begin getting vaccinated this month, especially if a second vaccine from Moderna Inc is quickly approved. While the Associated Press reported Friday that only about 50 percent of all Americans are ready to be inoculated.

After weeks of surging infections and rising levels of virus hospitalizations, the United States recorded more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, a pandemic record, the Washington Post reported Friday.

Another 2,902 U.S. deaths were reported on Thursday, a day after a record 3,253. The pace is projected to continue over the next two to three months even as distribution of available vaccine supplies ramps up, it said.

White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Friday pressed Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn to grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine by the end of that day, the Associated Press reported Friday.

According to the latest tally from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. continues to report the most coronavirus cases and deaths around the world, with 15,792,384 and 294,320, respectively.

(With input from agencies)