The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday formally accepted a recommendation from its advisory board that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine be given to people 18 years of age and older in the United States.
CDC director’s announcement Rochelle WalenskyRochelle Walensky Overnight Care: FDA Group Supports Johnson & Johnson Vaccine | The CDC director warns that the decline in cases “can be blocked” Biden administration buys 100,000 doses of Lilly antibody drug FDA panel approves Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine CDC director warns that decline in COVID-19 cases “could stop” in “change” MORE will allow vaccinations to begin as soon as doses are received.
Walensky called the decision “another important step toward the end of the pandemic.”
“This vaccine is also another important tool in our toolbox to vaccinate as many people as possible fairly, as quickly as possible,” Walensky said in a statement.
A senior administration official told reporters on Sunday night that Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will deliver 3.9 million doses immediately, and vaccine distribution centers will begin receiving them on Tuesday.
Experts said the vaccine could be targeted in places such as rural communities, health centers and individual medical practices because of its relatively easy storage requirements.
However, senior government officials said the goal is a fair distribution, and doses will be allocated to states based on population, as are Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Most communities will have doses of all three vaccines, but not at every vaccination site, due to limited availability. Officials stressed that people should get any vaccine available.
An administration official said the 3.9 million doses represented Johnson & Johnson’s entire inventory. There will be no further deliveries next week, and the official said the government is aware that distribution in the first and middle of March will be “uneven”.
A total of 20 million doses of J&J vaccine will be sent in March, but they will be more concentrated by the end of the month. The United States has paid 100 million doses, which the company has promised will be delivered by June.
The United States has paid more than $ 1 billion to help manufacture and deliver the J&J vaccine. Almost a year ago, the company also earned $ 465 million in federal funding for vaccine research and development. bringing the total US funding for the project to nearly $ 1.5 billion.
The third national coronavirus vaccine comes days after the United States exceeded 500,000 deaths with COVID-19.
While nursing home deaths have fallen sharply, as have cases and deaths in general, the CDC warns that the decline in new cases has stopped amid growing more contagious variants of the virus.
At the same time, governors across the country are lifting coronavirus restrictions, including mask warrants and capacity limits, despite warning signs of a new rise in virus mutations.
“The third safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is coming at a potentially crucial time,” Walensky said in a statement.
“The latest CDC data suggests that recent declines in COVID-19 cases could be blocked and reduced to a very large number. That is why it is so important to remain vigilant and to constantly take all mitigation measures. the steps we know work to stop the spread of COVID-19 as we move toward mass vaccination, “Walensky said.
Updated at 18:22