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New Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Approved For Distribution

WASHINGTON DC, March 1, 2021 ~ Saturday, Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine gained regulatory clearance from both the Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Disease Control.  The pharmaceuticals maker has begun shipping its first doses, with four million currently in transit.

We think literally within about the next 24 to 48 hours, Americans should start receiving shots in arms,” Johnson & Johnson’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Alex Gorsky said to NBC.

The vaccine is the first single-dose vaccine, requiring no boosters and no cold storage.  However, tests have found that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only 66 percent effective in preventing cases, compared to the higher than 90% for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.  The same tests showed though, like the flu vaccine, the J&J vaccine makes cases milder, decreasing the risk of hospitalization.

Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to test its vaccine in children older than 12 and under 18, with tests on infants, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems to follow.

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