ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES PRIMETIME DOCUMENTARY ON THE COVID-19 VACCINES AND THE RACE TO THE CURE - EXPLORING THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AMERICANS ARE ASKING ON SAFETY, ACCESS AND TIMING

'The Shot: Race for the Vaccine' - the One-Hour Special Edition of '20/20' - Airs Monday, Dec. 14, on ABC

As the number of COVID-19 cases climbs precipitously and deaths surpass 270,000 in the United States alone, promising news of vaccines is surfacing, finally giving millions of Americans hope for a better future and a return to normalcy. ABC News will air a primetime documentary that takes an inside look at how officials expect to deliver a safe and effective vaccine for the deadly coronavirus in record time, the quest to save lives and the nearly year-long journey that started just days after discovery of the virus in Wuhan. The one-hour special edition of "20/20" explores the questions many people are asking, arguing over and worrying about on safety, access and timing. "The Shot: Race for the Vaccine - A Special Edition of 20/20" airs Monday, Dec. 14 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC.

The special reports on the science behind the vaccines that are closest to receiving authorization; details of the trials and results; the near misses, the roadblocks and serendipity along the way; personal stories and behind-the-scenes footage of the scientists leading the charge; and the brave volunteers who participated in the trials. Experts say that 70% of the world population may need to take a vaccine if there is any hope of taming the pandemic. The documentary reports on the logistical and scientific challenges that health officials, the military, labs, and drug and shipping companies from different countries face in coordinating a global effort without parallel since the end of World War II.

The special features interviews with leading experts and officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease doctor; Dr. Stephen Hahn, FDA commissioner; Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the NIH's lead researcher on the coronavirus vaccine project; Dr. Barney Graham, deputy director of the NIH's Vaccine Research Center and chief of the virus research lab; Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the independent panel advising the FDA on vaccine authorizations and director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, President-elect Joe Biden's COVID-19 advisory board co-chair; Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines; Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; General Gustave Perna, the COO of Operation Warp Speed; and philanthropist Bill Gates.

The special is produced by the ABC News Specialized Units, Investigative Unit, ABC News Medical Unit and ABC Longform Unit. Jeanmarie Condon is senior executive producer; Megan Harding, Melia Patria and Cindy Galli are executive producers; and Josh Margolin and Eric M. Strauss are senior editorial producers.