today is the day pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is on rutta cross the country and will begin to be administered to thousands. we'll tell you who is first in line >> breaking overnight. russian cyber hackers breach the u.s. government targeting multiple agencies. we've got the latest >> and today the nation's 538 electors meet in their respective states to cast their ballot for president and vice president. a history ahead for american democracy. >> a christmas concert at the nation's largest cathedral interrupted by a shooter causing

chaos on the scene >> brace yourself for a storm. janessa is tracking the blizzard >> kicking off a busy week ahead. "early today" starts right now good monday morning. i'm phillip mena >> glad you're with us i'm frances rivera it is d-day in the usa planes, trucks and automobiles carrying the nation's first covid-19 vaccine and they are expected to deliver the potentially lifesaving drug to states today overnight a batch has already arrived at l.a.x. according to the tweet from the official twitter account. the historic moment comes as the country sees a surge of infections as of today there have been more than 16 million cases and we are fast closing in on 300,000 deaths a grim milestone we'll likely pass in just the next few hours. and in a few hours, many hospital systems nationwide are expected to begin distributing vaccines

nbc's gabe gutierrez joins us from the pfizer plant in michigan >> reporter: the first doses of pfizer's coronavirus vaccine are on the move across the u.s applause marking the milestone d-day. >> some people assume that it meant day of distribution. in fact, d-day in military designates the day the mission begins >> reporter: this is an historic moment the first trucks carrying the vaccine pulling out of the pfizer plant escorted by u.s. marshals it's the moment so many americans have been waiting for after such a devastating year that's taken the lives of nearly 300,000 people across this country. the urgent work inside the plant began before dawn. this a rare look at the painstaking process. hundreds of subarctic freezers holding the potentially

lifesaving vaccine then trays of vials packed into boxes and shipping containers filled with dry ice. the vapors a searing reminder of just how tough this is rushing a medical marvel at 80 degrees below zero she looked on with her family and fought back tears. >> because it finally feels like there is a beginning to the end of this. >> reporter: the rollout came as the cdc director signed off on an advisory panel's recommendation to use pfizer's vaccine for people 60 and older. >> it's an extraordinary day for science. it's an extraordinary day for humanity >> reporter: mike mcdermott of pfizer compares this to the space race he says a half million doses rolled out, roughly 2 million more by the end of the week. right now the u.s. has a contract for 100 million doses that should last through early next year. >> we're in discussions with the u.s. government and we look forward to another 100 million doses. >> reporter: the largest most ambitious vaccination effort in

u.s. history is underway a mission just beginning gabe gutierrez, nbc news, portage, michigan. >> let's go now to tennessee where health care workers and hospitals are awaiting the vaccine's arrival. corey cou cor corey kaufman is in memphis for us >> reporter: phillip, good morning. with the fedex arriving in memphis's hub and priority transports in planes going out carrying the vaccine as well as u.s. marshal security escort foreground transportation, vials will be reaching human contact today. it is historic, momentous for those involved >> it's an honor also very humbling because, yes, i'm going to be there and be one of the first to be able to vaccinate one of my colleagues

it's also, amazing, right. it it's amazing what science has come up with and we can protect other people >> reporter: they say they have a system in place for most vulnerable health care workers to receive the vaccines first, those who work with covid patients on a daily basis. when the vaccines arrive it will be fairly quick. they can take the boxes from the truck and inside and begin administering the vaccine in moments. some half million vaccines delivered to change the course of this pandemic phillip? >> it's what we've been waiting for. corey, thank you >> breaking overnight, officials say russian spies are behind a hacking campaign that targeted u.s. agencies and companies including fireye a commerce department spokesman confirmed a breach and the white house national security council is looking into another potential intrusion at the treasury department. reuters report foreign hearkers accessed internal government emails the "washington post" said the

attacks were carried out by a russian intelligence service >> the 538 electors will start casting votes at 10:00 a.m. eastern. once mr. biden passes the 270 mark, he will officially be president elect. with president trump's baseless claims of election fraud, the process is under more scrutiny than ever this year. officials are on high alert. michigan is closing its legislative office buildings during the vote today because of, quote, credible threats of violence to electors nbc's jennifer johnson has the latest >> reporter: president elect joe biden will be one step closer to the white house monday when the electoral college makes results in every state official. ensuring biden becomes the 46th president. in an interview with fox news, president trump says he won't concede. >> they say we lost the election we didn't lose >> reporter: remaining defiant even after the supreme court rejected a lawsuit by the state

of texas challenging four battleground states biden won. some republicans question the merits of that challenge >> this is the constitution, this is the law, this is how it breaks out, the courts have ruled. president biden will be our next >> reporter: supporters rallied in washington. they are planning the $900 billion aid package. they are planning before they leave. >> the plan is alive and well and there is no way we're going to leave washington without taking care of the emergency needs of our people. >> reporter: as the covid-19 pandemic forces more shutdowns, layoffs and evictions, millions of struggling americans are desperate for the bickering to end and an agreement to be reached. jennifer johnson, nbc news, washington >> the gunman who opened fire at saint john the divine in new york city, the largest cathedral in the world, was shot and killed by police officers. police say the cathedral's annual christmas carolling event

held on the front steps had just ended right before the gunman made his way to the top of the church's steps and opened fire the n.y.p.d. commissioner says three officers who were on the scene returned 15 shots and struck him dead. according to multiple witnesses, the suspect was yelling, "kill me" before he was shot the man who has not been identified was pronounced dead at a hospital. police found a bag belonging to him that contained gasoline, rope, wire, knives, a bible and tape he was also armed with two semiautomatic handguns there have been no other reports of injuries and so far the shooter's motive is unknown. >> this morning we're remembering best selling british author the long time novelist penned tinker taylor spy. he started his career in the british foreign service, becoming an intelligence officer and writing under a pseudonym. they said he died of pneumonia he was 89 years old.

>> in case you missed it over the weekend, the passing of music legend charlie pride he was country music's first black superstar. he had ten top hits and the first african-american inducted into the hall of fame. he died saturday from complications of covid charlie pride was 86 years old >> frightening for passengers aboard a jet on saturday, a man got onto the tarmac and somehow got onto the plan's wing he spent time walking back and forth as police watched from below. the man even tried to climb up part of the wing before he slipped to the ground and was eventually taken into custody. >> let's turn now to nbc meteorologist janessa webb i have a feeling she has a whole lot she's watching in the next coming days this week. good morning, janessa. >> good morning. you're exactly right we have two big storm systems that are starting to come together the one this morning is quickly making its way across the east coast and will provide a good

rain, kind of snow mixture little to no accumulation because the system is moving fast the bigger weather story is going into mid week into your early thursday we have a very large storm system that is starting to take place across the southeast into the south, and look at this. this could be one of the biggest snowfalls we've seen in quite a few years. our european models and american model are not really in agreement, but we're looking at high pressure well to the north and this is going to dump at least a foot of snow in someart. but, man, the chill for the upper midwest, 19 bismarck we're starting to see warnings go in place i'll show you those coming up.

>> we'll need to hear it all right. thank you, janessa south america will see a total eclipse of the sun today and the last one of the year at the height of the eclipse, the sun will be completely hidden by the shadow of the moon the phenomenon will be mostly visible from chile to argentina. nasa's space.com beginning 8:30 a.m. eastern time. >> cool. come -- coming up cleveland strikes the controversial me >> inside the rollout, who is set to get covid-19 first? ust o♪ ♪ and i know it's gonna be... a lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day, lovely day. lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day. ♪ lovely day, lovely day. ♪ no matter how you celebrate this year, make this holiday extra special with a gift from pandora jewelry.

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one is completed and the answer can be different based on where you live. it's ultimately up to the states to decide and many are still hashing out their plan in the war against covid, states are armed with a new weapon >> the cavalry is coming a vaccine is on the way. >> reporter: the state of maryland ready with a priority plan to vaccinate. long term care facility residents and health care workers. first responders and those with high-risk conditions phase two essential employees, and phase three, the general public >> ultimately it is not the federal government decides, not the cdc that decides, but states and jurisdictions that decide. >> reporter: many states are still grappling with who comes next in line for the vaccine after phase one. regionally priorities can vary in kansas phase two will put a high priority on workers in meat packing and grocery business. across the country, 48,000 in

the industry have been infected with covid another 350 have died. >> they are given special consideration given the fact that they do work in high transmission points, and that they serve such an important function in our society. >> reporter: there's roughly 90 million essential workers nationwide, but defining an order to essential, a huge challenge. an early plan in louisiana puts prison guards and food processors ahead of teachers ohio and california giving priority to disadvantaged communities. >> poor and low-income people and low-wage workers at the end of the line for a vaccine, but at the front of the line for giving >> reporter: ethics and policy says states need to consider their demographic carefully to determine who is at risk >> when it comes to the elderly population, we want to be mindful of the fact just because you are old doesn't mean you're at risk.

>> reporter: for the many americans eager for their shot what do you tell them now? >> we all need patients. it's not about us, but about all of us. >> reporter: catie beck, nbc news >> still to come later on today, health and human services secretary alex azar weighs in on today's vaccine rollout and what's next for time line and distribution all right. cleveland follows in the footsteps of the washington football team. that's next. >> and the nfl playoff picture is snapping into fus 'll tell you what teams have punched their ticket to the dance. for drug free relief that works fast. vicks sinex. instantly clear everday congestion. ♪ just one look at you. ♪ and i know it's gonna be... a lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day, lovely day. lovely day. ♪ ♪ lovely day.

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we saw that against the jets last week. >> 38 looking for it all the interception >> the incredible pick set the tone for a wild week for a team in the nfl the colts relied on high octane plays to take care of the raiders, like this 62-yard sprint to the house for the rookie jonathan taylor indy hits it big in their vegas road trip, going home with a 44-27 win. >> and two of the afc's very best battled under the bright lights of sunday night football. turner hurt the bills early against the 11-1 steelers. pittsburgh's fumble recovery led too big ben finding james washington in the end zone for the game's first score but buffalo would circle the wagons in the second half. josh allen finding stefon diggs.

they handed them a loss, 26-15 jalen hurts had a start. the eagles ran away in the first half and they would hold on to upset the saints 24-21 kyler murray needed a win to stay in the wild card race they took the fight to the giants, clapping down on defense. arizona ends the giants' win streak with a big road victory 26-7 chase young got his first career touchdown for washington after a big-time fumble recovery just before the half against san francisco. washington's defense kept the 49ers at bay for most of the game they win it 23-15. washington now moves into the nfc east division lead with their win and the giants loss, while the green bay packers ascend to the number one seed in the nfc after their win in detroit. >> now to a super sunday at the

links that will just have to wait a day play was suspended in the u.s. women's open final rounds due to dangerous weather. japan's hanaka shibuno reaction is set to this morning on the golf channel. >> identity shift for a major league baseball team as "the new york times" reports after 105 years, cleveland's baseball team is looking for a new name. nbc news has not confirmed this report, but the times says the team could make the announcement as soon as this week the team began phasing out the chief wahu cartoon logo in the 2019 season. no word yet on the new nickname or when it would hit the field president trump tweeted his reaction to the news calling it [ inaudible ] >> janessa webb says many could be in for a foot of snow we're going to tell you where. >> plus a christmas carol. the choir director who turned his inntunuend aufuperformance.

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we are back now with inspiring story. a children's choir and how the show must go on during a holiday season like no other nbc's kate snow joins us with more kate >> reporter: frances, music always finds a way, right, a way to bring us together even when we're apart. and the way to help people through their pain as director of the children's choir in eastern idaho, ben watson knew having a christmas concert this year was crucial. >> it was really, really important for me to try to keep music alive and to continue producing music if it was

possible to do it in a safe way. ♪ ♪ ♪ for unto us a child is born >> reporter: so he and his team got creative uniting is children for a virtual holiday show like no other filming them one at a time in front of green screens similar to what weather forecasters use, then later adding the digital background >> then we took all of those video tracks, edited them into one video, which gives the sense that they're all standing on the stage together singing together. ♪ the ever lasting father >> reporter: the project a month in the making. >> it was really something that i needed, to hear that beautiful music quite frankly because it was something that my soul needed >> reporter: he needed it as part of his own healing. in november ben's brother david passed away from complications of covid >> he was a father of four beautiful children he was the hardest worker that i

know he was a high achiever, well respected by his peers in the military just a great guy >> reporter: the concert, in part, a tribute. >> i will also think of my brother. i will think of my family because this production came to fruition at that time of grieving ♪ and the government shall be upon his shoulders ♪ >> reporter: but also a reminder of life's beauty for singers like 9th grader kallan jost >> it can bring happiness to everybody. >> reporter: a chance to pause and remember a difficult year. >> my heart goes out to anybody who suffered a loss because of this pandemic. i can feel for you because i've experienced it myself. there is hope, and there is healing. there is a light at the end of this tunnel. >> reporter: the choir has been experimenting with other kinds of socially distanced

performances it is just so important right now to have beautiful coral music around us, frances >> thank you so much, kate up lifting itself. heartbreaking, difficult year, but what a beautiful way to end it >> makes it feel like the holidays

breaking overnight the first shipments of the fda's approved pfizer coronavirus vaccine have begun arriving at destinations across america. and today the first americans will begin receiving the vaccine. >> front line health care workers are the first in line to receive vaccine injections and for many it's not a moment too soon >> an historic day ahead for democracy as members of the electoral college officially cast their ballots for president. >> the shooting outside america's largest cathedral where a christmas concert was taking place >> this morning we're remembering the best-selling