lysol. what it takes to protect. breaking overnight, the first coronavirus vaccines have already begun to be distributed this morning as the uk rolls out pfizer's initial 800,000 doses. this morning we'll remembe two american icons first, chuck yeager who was the first man to break the sound barrier, and then remembering john lennon 40 years after his murder in new york city. we're 17 days to christmasing and this morning we've got a consumer alert for amazon and prime customers.

plus, our lester holt with a rare one-on-one with a celebrated world war ii veteran. "early today" starts right now. good tuesday morning i'm phillip mena. >> glad you're with us i'm frances rivera a historic moment across the pond over in the uk, v-day is under way. that's what they're calling the mass vaccination effort for covid-19 people are getting their first immunizations. our matt bradley joins us now from london. certainly a pivotal day for london and the world, matt. >> reporter: it's really historic you mentioned v-day. we haven't heard that since world war ii how historic and how, you know, life-changing the british government considering this. with just about 2 1/2 hours since we saw maggie keenan she was the first person to

receive the dose she was administered that vaccine by may parsons she's among the first group of persons to receive this. it's going to be rolled out in the states starting with residents of nursing homes, caregivers at nursing homes, and doctors for the national health service. now, the national health service has recruited 30,000 people to distribute vaccines nationwide so this is going to be an enormous effort, and it's all starting today the vast majority of those vaccines are going to be administered in the new year, and this is why things are going so slowly because it's sufficient a logistical challenge. all of these vaccines, and there are now 800,000 doses here in brittain, they've require two different doses three weeks

apart. that alone is an issue, tracking people, making sure they've come back for the second dosage but the real issue, it needs to be stored at negative 100 degrees fahrenheit >> even with those complications, you hope it goes smoothly and successfully. meanwhile here in the u.s., the pandemic is reaching new heights. the number of americans infected has now surpassed the 15 million mark from december 1st to the 5th, over a million people were infected that's an average of 200,000 people infected daily. in california, a new lockdown has been triggered for 33 million people as available hospital icu beds drop to critically low levels. the new mandates prohibit the mixing of any households even for a walk outside retail businesses including

pharmacies must have capacity of 20%. meanwhile president trump will hold a vaccine summit at the white house to focus on distribution and build up public confidence the fda could issue approval for the pfizer vaccine as early as thursday meanwhile "the new york times" reports the white house passed up the offer from pfizer for additional doses this summer there's a worry there will be enough for everyone. tracie potts joins us live tracie, what can we expect to hear from today's event. >> we'll hear from government experts. we'll not see president-elect biden. he was not invited neither were the drugmakers who are making this vaccine. pfizer and moderna invited, but they've declined to attend, according to the report. meanwhile capitol hill is still dealing with covid-related relief negotiations.

word overnight, they're getting close to a deal, but the sticking point seems to be liability for businesses and possibly trading that for state and local money democrats want, but they're hoping to get to something before winter break to stop what democrats call the christmas cliff, business protections, small business loans and other supports going away this month if they've don't come up with a deal. also tomorrow we're told lawmakers will push down the road one more week the decision on funding the government. in other words, they'll put in place a stopgap to stop a government shutdown from happening and give themselves another week to try to work out a bigger deal. we will see today an announcement of president-elect biden's health team including california attorney general xavier becerra, the first latino of health and human services, dr. anthony fauci to stay on and

a team to help with those of ethnicity and color. and finally on friday t first person of color to be nominated to the pentagon, retired general lloyd austin president-elect biden saying that announcement to come on friday frances? >> a lot of significant announcements to take in tracie, thank you. as we mentioned moments ago, millions of people on the west coast have been ordered to stay home nearly 85% of california's residents are under strict new restrictions as the state see as surge in icu patients. nbc's jake ward has more on the situation there. jake, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, phillip. this is san francisco's chinatown. it's the oldest chinatown in north america, and yet normally a street that would be packed with tourists is empty that's because 33 million californians are under some sort of lockdown order, and the five counties that surround where i am right now have imposed it ahead of any sort of governmental order

why? it's to save icu space in some regions of california, fewer than 6% of icu beds are still available. but there is some good news. governor newsom announced yesterday that by the end of this month, more than a million people could be received vaccines in this state some good news go along with some very stringent conditions here in the golden state phillip? >> we appreciate the update. jake, thank you. although the covid virus vaccine has not been approved in the united states, tech companies are thinking of life after covid. some businesses are developing apps that show you've been vaccinated which will be vital for working, traveling, and attending events here's nbc's jo ling kent. >> hey, frances. with news of the vaccine, so many people are eager to get back to some of the fun things we use dodd like live sports, basketball games, a live concert, right it seems like there's new

technology that's being developed to get us a little closer to that old reality with vaccines on the horizon, new health apps are springing to life ibm and clear, the company known for skpe pe dieting surt at airports are developing apps to take in realtime vaccination information. they've could ee verchltually be used for concerts and live sports here's how it works. you use it before you go into big venues like this to make it safer and faster to get to your seat it will flash green if you meade requirements. >> the stadium would not see your personal data everything is opt-in. >> how much information will they've have even though the stadium will see only green? >> we don't hold your lelt data. >> reporter: the l.a. football club says health plan is part of their reopening plan next year.

>> how much technology will you need to fill these seats again >> it's going to be a must it's an expectation of government officials that will ultimately decide when and how we can bring fans back we also want to know that when we get up to go to a concession stand, when we walk into the team store, that the other people that came through the gate and are here with us are also safe. >> reporter: for live events, ticketmaster is exploring several options including a smartphone verification system for vaccination status and negative tests the australian government has also said it may require proof of vaccination in the future for entry into the country a glimpse of a vaccinated future and a new normal now, this technology that's coming from clear and ibm, they're just two companies working on this right now. there's a lot of didn't ways that smaller venues like restaurants and smaller theaters can deploy it as well.

for right now, some of that technology is being used to answer the basic covid questions. as we get closer to hopefully a vaccine for everyone, frances. >> entering a whole new world. jo, thanks. breaking news. the legendary american pilot chuck yeager has died. as a combat pilot during world war ii, yeager flew over 60 missions then as a pilot he made history. at 24 years old he became the first to travel faster than the speed of sound shep eard and yeager spoke about the flight on the "today" show back in 1983. >> he was an ordinary guy. >> you would have never thought of yourself as a hero. >> no, all the work i did, research, that's my job, and i'm

lucky to come through it in one piece, and that's the way you look at it. >> after retiring from the air force, yeager continued to work as a test pilot and consultant over the course of his career, he piloted more than 360 types of aircraft. the world-famous aviator, chuck yeager, was 97 years old. first and goal now he wants to throw. the tight end will leap over the defender and into the end zone for the touchdown. >> on the west coast, josh allen's four touchdown passes kept buffalo ahead, above the 49ers from the second quarter on the bills win their first monday night game since 1999, 34-24. and in pittsburgh, the washington football team storms back from a 14-0 hold, stunning the steelers on the road pittsburgh turned it over with two minutes to go. undefeated no more washington wins, 23-17.

>> it was a good game. all right. nbc meteorologist janessa webb joining us now with a look outside on this tuesday. hey, janessa, good morning >> good morning. good orning, everyone. very quiet conditions across the lower 48 that's really going to continue throughout your afternoon. the problem, though, is still southern california. very dry air is in place, and that's why these red flag warnings, they've continue to really emerge across los angeles, all the quay into the higher elevation we do have potential gusts of 50 to 60 miles per hour that will drop that's the place. even from the upper midwest to the plains, we're seeing record-high temperatures highs are in the lower 60s and that's your latest forecast.

guys >> all right, janessa. thanks so much we'll hear from you in just a bit. major league baseball gave the most honorable to a class act pitcher. adam wainwright received the roberto clemente award his organization works to improve the impact of children in need and those around the world. a prime target the new amazon scam to watchut o for this holiday season. we're back in two minutes. ead of the mess but scrubbing still takes time. now there's dawn powerwash dish spray. the faster, easier way to clean as you go. it cleans grease five times faster on easy messes, just spray, wipe, and rinse. on tough messes, the spray-activated suds cut through grease on contact, without water. just wipe, and rinse. get dishes done faster

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has been hacked or trying to trace a suspect amazon purchase. >> an unauthorized purchase of $749 is being ordered from your amazon account press 1 to connect with our customer support team. >> reporter: scammers said they've had an $800 charge he quickly realized it was a scam and hung up. when scammer sent this fake email to wanda lee with a $6,000 charge, she called them to give them a piece of her mind. >> you guys ought to be ashamed of yourself at this time of year with the pandemic going on he hung up on me >> reporter: the advice from the ftc, don't press 1 to speak to a live person. don't call any number a robocall provides don't give out personal information. the ftc, amazon, and apple say if you suspect a problem with

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they're open, but they're boarded up because of the demonstrations earlier this summer that are continuing there's a lot hitting small businesses i stopped in on one guy who runs a coffee shop and he's managed to make a go of it here's how he did it. >> it's definitely been difficult to stay positive i mean i remember when the first lockdown orders were coming up i definitely had a couple of days i was curious what was going to happen next for us. fortunately the team is strong, and i have strong people around me, and even down to the landlord of the building contacted me and was like, hey, if you have to be closed, i understand, you know, just tell me what we can do and how i can help you but him saying that actually motivated me to work harder. >> reporter: so the end story is resonant if you're a small business, understand they're all struggling they've all need your business tell people you're in a little bit of trouble tell people you need them to

stay in business i think he's done a good job of selling that to folks. >> thank you hopefully in the new year comes new hope and new change for everybody. >> nothing wrong with asking for help if you need it. up next, inside an infamous murder that shocked the world. and honoring a veteran from three wars also fit under the be. no, not that one. ok, that one. meaning, you. you're the one we made mywalgreens for. with pickup in as little as 30 minutes. to make saving, shopping, and holiday chaos...easier. introducing mywalgreens. join for 30 minute pickup at walgreens.com honey honey? new nyquil severe honey is maximum strength cold and flu medicine with soothing honey-licious taste. nyquil honey. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever best sleep with a cold medicine.

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mario lopez putting a romantic twist on colonel sanders in a new lifetime movie. >> i keep falling for the new chef. >> the cook? >> jessica skipped town. >> he has a secret recipe that's going to change the world. >> who the hell are you. >> harlan sanders, the new chef. >> this movie is in partnership with kfc it's the first branded movie you can see the kitschiness there.

>> i hope he calls the guy up. 79 years ago today congress declared war on japan in the wake of the pearl harbor attack. this morning lester holt has the storied career of an american patriot who fought in three wars >> reporter: on the day the japanese attacked pearl harbor, charles mcgee turned 22. soon he was in uniform a fighter pilot with the legendary tuskegee airmen, the all-black unit that broke barriers and helped usher in change in america. >> my first flight in a pt 17 in the tuskegee's army field in alabama, i was hooked. i loved flying. >> reporter: amassing more than 400 career combat missions in world war ii, korea, and vietnam, retired colonel mcgee was later awarded the rank of bridge dear general by president

trump, his great grandson ian with him during his speech. >> general mcgee, our nation salutes you. thank you, sir >> has your life changed a lot now that you're general? >> a lot to be thankful for because of that. >> reporter: now on his 101st birthday, mcgee saluted by columbia college in missouri where he got his degree, dedicating a veteran service center to him. >> oh, my. such an honor. >> what do you have in common with today's young warriors, young military members >> what i would like to pass on to them is their participation and knowledge to know that they've can achieve if they've believe in it, in themselves, and don't let others tell them that they've can't do something.

>> wow, what a life. our thanks we're forever indebted to general mcgee. my goodness. what a great conversation. thanks so much for starting your day with us on "early today. i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm frances riv repair your enamel with pronamel repair. our most advanced formula helps you brush in vital minerals to actively repair and strengthen enamel. so you don't just brush to clean, you brush to build. pronamel intensive enamel repair. ♪ ♪ life's more fun with a dog. and doglife is more fun with milk-bone. ♪ ♪

we're going to sonoma county. i believe they're still open. right now at 4:30 it different decision making on strict new rules. the growing confusion as some roll out new covid restrictions and others hold off on making any changes. also coronavirus and the classroom. getting your kids back to school safely. this as all new data shows bay area students are slipping behind while learning at home. plus, surf's up. the coast gets hammered with waves. a warning for anyone heading to the beach. meteorologist kari hall is tracking