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Johnson & Johnson said Monday that it plans to have enough doses of its vaccine for more than 20 million Americans by the end of March if its vaccine is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration.
The vaccine is eagerly awaited as the next to join the COVID-19 vaccines already in use by Pfizer and Moderna. An FDA advisory committee is meeting on Friday to review the request, and emergency clearance could come soon after.
The company gave for the first time on Monday a specificity as to the number of doses it will have immediately. The vaccine, unlike those from Pfizer and Moderna, requires only one dose, so 20 million doses would completely immunize 20 million people.
“Assuming the necessary regulatory approvals relating to our manufacturing processes, our plan is to begin shipping immediately after emergency use authorization, and to provide enough single doses by the end of March to allow vaccination. over 20 million Americans, “Richard Nettles, vice president of US medical affairs for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, part of Johnson & Johnson, said in a prepared address for the House Energy and Commerce committee. The remarks were posted online by the committee ahead of Tuesday’s hearing with several vaccine makers.
The company also said it stays on pace to have 100 million doses by the end of the first half of the year.
Doses of Johnson & Johnson, subject to FDA clearance, may help speed up the vaccination program by adding to doses already available from Pfizer and Moderna, and the need for a single dose may simplify the process.
White House officials had previously said they did not expect many doses of Johnson & Johnson immediately.
In addition, Pfizer is also increasing its offer. John Young, the company’s chief commercial officer, said in testimony released by the committee that the company would be able to increase production to 13 million doses per week by mid-March, from 4 to 5 million per week in early February. .
The company says it remains on track for 120 million doses at the end of March and 200 million doses at the end of May.
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