The United States' top infectious diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine jab in a televised event to ecourage Americans to take the vaccine.

"As a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine, and I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so we can have a veil of protection over this country that would end this pandemic," Fauci said.

The 79-year-old noted that the new vaccines have their roots in research performed by the scientists and grantees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Fauci was joined in receiving the vaccine by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and six other NIH frontline workers.

The Moderna vaccine is the second coronavirus vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the Pfizer vaccine.

The approval and distribution of the Moderna vaccine boosted the U.S. emergency vaccine rollout with over 5.9 million doses.

(With input from agencies)