The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use permit on Saturday to Johnson & Johnson to distribute its single-dose coronavirus vaccine. According to data reviewed by the agency, the pharmaceutical and consumer goods giant’s shot was found to be 66 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in clinical trials against the virus, although less effective against the South African variant. It was also 85 percent effective at circumventing severe infection and provided “complete protection” against in-hospital death from COVID-19. While the pharmaceutical company is expected to start small – with 20 million doses shipped by the end of March and 100 million by the end of June – the vaccine is seen as easier to use and store than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which required two doses and be frozen.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, senior medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said on Saturday that Americans should not decide not to use the J&J vaccine because they consider its efficacy to be inferior. The inoculation was still 100 percent effective in preventing death in subjects who received it, as opposed to the placebo group.
‘Don’t necessarily get caught up in the numbers game, because it’s a very good vaccine, and we need as many good vaccines as possible. Rather than break down the difference between 94 and 72, accept that you now have three highly effective vaccines. Period, ”he said.
The approval of the third vaccine comes just days after the nation hit the heartbreaking death toll of 500,000 people. It’s also because experts warn that a recent drop in COVID cases could lead to a false sense of security and premature relaxation of restrictions at a time when newly emerging variants of the virus pose further risk. With that in mind, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is seen as a critical way to bolster defenses at a critical time. “This single dose regimen provides important logistical and practical benefits for mass vaccination campaigns. It could lead to the ability to achieve both individual and herd immunity more quickly, ”said Gregory Poland, director of Mayo Clinic’s vaccine research group and a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson who presented the vaccine to the FDA. “It essentially simplifies the process. People only need to make one appointment for their full vaccination. ”