BRUSSELS – Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 monofuel vaccine was approved for use by EU authorities on Thursday, but approval seems unlikely to immediately accelerate the vaccine’s recent launch in Europe.
The European Medicines Agency said the J&J vaccine was safe and effective against Covid-19, and hours later the EU authorities officially authorized its use. Distribution will begin in the second quarter.
The EMA’s decision to recommend the authorization of the J&J vaccine follows US approval at the end of last month.
The J&J vaccine has the potential to significantly support vaccination actions over time. It can be stored in refrigerators instead of freezers, making it easier to store and distribute than some vaccines already approved, and recipients need a single dose, rather than the two given for other vaccines, often many weeks apart. .
Studies have found that the J&J vaccine has had a high impact in preventing serious disease, but it was actually 67% overall when moderate cases were included. Side effects were usually mild or moderate, the EMA said.