Johnson & Johnson expects not to exceed its commitment to deliver 10 million doses of it Vaccine covid-19 by the end of February, with less than 4 million euros to be ready for shipment after a hopeful emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration.
The disclosure of the deficiency by Johnson & Johnson is the first public measure of exactly how far the drug company has lagged behind its production targets. Johnson & Johnson has promised to deliver another 25 million by the end of March.
“We will have 20 million doses of vaccine that will be available by the end of March and we are ready to deliver, immediately after the emergency use authorization, almost 4 million doses of vaccine,” Dr. Richard Nettles, Johnson & Johnson, vice president of medical affairs for the Janssen branch, said Tuesday at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
He said the company remains “confident in our plans to deliver 100 million” doses by the end of June.
As a single-dose vaccine that can be stored at standard refrigerator temperature for three months, candidate Johnson & Johnson has been announced as a key breakthrough in the U.S. vaccination effort, despite its slightly lower efficacy compared to vaccines with two doses produced by Pfizer and Moderna.
“It’s a very easy vaccine to transport and administer; it doesn’t have all these complicated requirements, especially like Pfizer, which is a much more delicate vaccine. You get one dose, you get it, you’re done. This is the vaccine I want.” said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief physician of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
While the vaccine is logistically simpler, states may face obstacles in deciding which sites should be prioritized for stronger doses or how to deal with residents hoping to get one vaccine over another. Some of this guidance could come this weekend after the Advisory Committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Immunization Practices meets to discuss the Johnson & Johnson version.
“I think there is a feeling in many jurisdictions that it would be great if this vaccine came up with very specific recommendations about who should get it and how to use it,” Plescia said.
Also, states still do not know how many doses of Johnson & Johnson should be expected. The Biden administration anticipates the possibility of allocating 2 million doses next week to jurisdictions.
Both Johnson & Johnson and federal officials have acknowledged for weeks that the company has faced obstacles. as production accelerated in the US, causing the administration to change its vaccination goals.
Last year, states were given specific allocations for both the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna weeks before FDA approval.
“We plan to be prepared when EUA is approved. It’s not about getting in front of EUA, it’s just about making sure we’re stuck, so when the EUA comes, the distribution to the people of America becomes immediate in 24 days. hours, “General Gus Perna, head of the Trump administration’s vaccine distribution effort, told reporters last year.
By comparison, earlier this week Biden officials refused to provide a specific number of doses they expected from Johnson & Johnson, let alone what allocations states should expect. Asked if some of the doses would be reserved for pharmacies or other federal programs, the administration said Monday it was only waiting to complete its strategy after the FDA and CDC were weighed.
“Once we understand what the scientific community has to say, we will be able to answer, I think, the very relevant questions we need the advice of scientists,” said White House Chief Counsel Andy Slavitt.