Detroit vaccines: Mayor denies Johnson & Johnson award, saying other vaccines are better



[ad_1]

Duggan, a Democrat who has served as mayor since 2014, said he turned down the shipment because the city was able to meet current demand with its supply of Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – even as its administration expanded vaccine eligibility Thursday for senior residents. 50 and over with chronic health problems.

“So Johnson & Johnson is a very good vaccine. Moderna and Pfizer are the best. And I’m going to do everything I can to ensure that the people of the city of Detroit get the best,” Duggan said at a press conference. Thursday. .

The United States Food and Drug Administration on Saturday cleared the single-dose J&J vaccine, which has been shown to be 72% effective in the United States against moderate to severe / critical Covid-19 cases. Clinical trials have shown the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be approximately 95% effective.

All three vaccines are very effective in preventing serious illnesses caused by Covid-19, and health officials have urged people to take any Covid-19 vaccine offered to them.

“Maybe the day will come in March or April when every Moderna and Pfizer will get involved, and we still have people who need a vaccine. And at that time, we’ll create a Johnson & Johnson Center. I don’t see that in the next two weeks, ”Duggan said.

Detroit this week received a total of 29,000 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, the mayor said. He said he expected roughly the same amount next week and has repeatedly stated that there is enough supply to meet current demand. He urged all qualified residents to make appointments.

The Detroit mass vaccination site at the TCF hub is capable of “max-out” at 5,000 cars per weekday, Duggan explained, adding that health officials will administer the remaining 4,000 doses between vaccination events. “Senior Saturday” and the health department. week.

'The impossible is not impossible': the push to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines at record speed

Detroit has received 6,200 doses of the J&J vaccine, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

“The Johnson and Johnson doses not used by Detroit were provided to other health services that had lower coverage rates for people 65 years of age or older,” spokesman Bob Wheaton said in a statement. at CNN.

The J&J vaccine doses “were allocated in addition to Moderna and Pfizer distribution,” Wheaton said, adding that Detroit had not received an additional supply from Moderna or Pfizer to replace the 6,200 lost J&J doses.

“All immunization service providers capable of handling the storage and management of a vaccine should accept the vaccine,” he said.

Detroit suppliers administered 101,636 total doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, with 55,121 future doses already scheduled, according to the city’s Covid-19 dashboard.

A spokesperson for Duggan did not immediately respond to follow-up questions from CNN on whether the city would accept the J&J vaccine in the future.

CNN has also reached out to the Biden administration for comment.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Tuesday the state was relaxing some coronavirus-related restrictions, including restaurant capacity. She cited a lower number of cases and the increased availability of vaccines.

She also noted that the J&J vaccine is made in the state, in Grand Rapids.

[ad_2]

Source link