The United States government has authorized Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine paving the way for millions of Americans to be vaccinated against the virus.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the emergency use authorization will be for people aged 18 years old and older.
In J&J’s 44,000-person global trial, the vaccine was found to be 66% effective at preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19 four weeks after inoculation, and 100% effective in preventing hospitalization and death due to the virus.
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“This is an emergency use authorization to really mitigate hopefully the devastating effects of the current pandemic,” Marion Gruber, the FDA’s director of the office of vaccines research & review, said.
The vaccine has recorded very few serious side effects from the vaccine. The vaccine was also found to be effective in reducing asymptomatic infections. If this will be further proven then the vaccine can help in curbing the transmission of the virus.
The J&J’s vaccine is expected to be used widely around the globe because it can be shipped and stored at normal refrigerator temperatures.
“It potentially could play a very substantial role if we have enough doses because it’s only a single-dose vaccine and that will make it attractive to people who are difficult to reach,” said Dr. William Schaffner.
READ ON: Janssen begins COVID-19 vaccine trials in PH
Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez said the government signed new agreements including those with Moderna for 20 million doses of its vaccine and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceutica) for 5 million doses of its single-dose coronavirus shot.
Initial doses of Moderna and Johnson and Johnson’s vaccines were expected to arrive in the Philippines as early as the 3rd quarter of 2021, with additional supply slated for delivery in the 4th quarter.
The company also began its Phase 3 clinical trials in the Philippines. (TDT)
