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The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization on Saturday to Johnson & Johnson to distribute its single-dose coronavirus vaccine. According to data reviewed by the agency, the pharmaceutical and consumer giant’s jab was found to be 66% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in clinical trials against the virus, although less effective against the variant. South African. It was also 85% effective in bypassing serious infection and offered “complete protection” against hospital deaths 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 considered easier to use and store than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which required two doses and had to be frozen.
Dr Anthony Fauci, senior medical adviser to President Joe Biden, said on Saturday that Americans should not decide not to take the J&J vaccine because they consider its effectiveness to be inferior. The inoculation was still 100% effective in preventing death in the trial participants who received it, as opposed to the placebo group.
“Don’t necessarily get caught up in the numbers game, because this is a very good vaccine, and we need as many good vaccines as possible. Rather than analyze the difference between 94 and 72, accept the fact that you now have three very effective vaccines. Period, ”he says.
Approval of the third vaccine comes just days after the nation hit the heartbreaking death toll of 500,000 people. It also comes as experts warn that a recent drop in COVID cases could lead to a false sense of security and a premature relaxation of restrictions at a time when new emerging variants of the virus pose additional risk. With that in mind, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is seen as a crucial way to strengthen defenses at a critical time. “This single-dose regimen offers significant logistical and practical benefits for mass vaccination campaigns. This can help achieve individual and herd immunity faster, ”said Gregory Poland, director of the Mayo Clinic’s vaccine research group and paid consultant to Johnson & Johnson who presented the vaccine to the FDA. “Essentially, it simplifies the process. People only need to make an appointment for their full vaccination. “
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