Johnson & Johnson vaccine: FDA says safe and effective

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on the 24th (local time) that Johnson & Johnson’s new vaccine against coronavirus infection (Corona 19) was safe and effective.

Accordingly, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is expected to be approved for emergency use in the United States for the third time after Pfizer-Bioentech and Modena.

Unlike other vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, developed by Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and also called the Janssen vaccine, can prevent Corona 19 with a single dose.

This vaccine is cheaper than Pfizer, Moder, or Vaccine and can be stored in the refrigerator instead of frozen.

Janssen, an affiliate of Johnson & Johnson, revealed that this product has an excellent preventive effect against severe COVID-19.

The FDA information document contains more details than the data presented by Janssen.

Vaccine efficacy trials were conducted in the United States, South Africa, and Brazil. Although the effect was high against severe corona 19, the overall prevention effect was decreased in South Africa and Brazil, where the mutant virus spread.

In particular, the effect of preventing severe Corona 19 was greater than 85%.

However, looking at the situation after 28 days after vaccination, it was only 66% of the normal level for Corona 19.

There were no deaths between vaccinations and no hospitalized patients were reported until 28 days after vaccination.

The external expert committee is scheduled to hold a meeting on the 26th to decide whether or not to approve the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the FDA.

A US White House official said it is expected to distribute at least 3 million doses (one dose) of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the next week if emergency approval is obtained.

Johnson & Johnson also announced that it plans to deliver a total of 20 million doses by the end of March 1, in line with the agreement to supply 100 million doses to the United States by the end of June.

The country that ordered the Johnson & Jones vaccine?

Meanwhile, Ghana, West Africa, received the first Corona 19 vaccine provided free of charge by COVAX, a joint vaccine purchasing and distribution project. The vaccine distributed to Ghana is the AstraZeneca vaccine.