Coronavirus: health secretary Alex Azar expects US vaccine by December

• Azar plays down significance of Russian vaccine progress
• Health secretary predicts tens of millions of doses' by year's end

The US health secretary, Alex Azar, said on Tuesday morning that America hopes to have a coronavirus vaccine approved by December and tamped down Russia's celebrations over unveiling its own vaccine after rapid development.

The point is not to be first," Azar said. The point is to have a vaccine that is safe and effective for the American people and the people of the world."