The vaccine is the first single-dose formulation approved for use in the United States.
Americans will soon have access to another vaccine to protect against the SARS-CoV-2 virus or coronavirus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both approved the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the United States. The single-dose vaccine does not need to be refrigerated at the same low temperatures as does the Pfizer and Moderna, a potential game-changer. In clinical trials, this vaccine was less effective than the existing vaccines but prevented 100 percent from death and hospitalization.
The company began shipping the first 4 million doses of vaccine on Sunday. Because the vaccine can be kept stable at temperatures between 36-46°F, it can be shipped directly to doctor offices and community health centers that don’t have high-powered refrigeration needed for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. This will also make it easier to get life-saving vaccines to rural areas and tribal lands.
Photo by CDC from Unsplash
Clinical trials for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine were conducted in South America, South Africa, Mexico, and the United States. Overall the vaccine was 67 percent effective in preventing severe disease 14 days after vaccination and 85 percent effective after 28 days. To compare, the Moderna vaccine was 94 percent effective in preventing disease after two doses, and the Pfizer vaccine was 95 percent effective after two doses, according to the CDC.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was also found to be very effective against the South African variant B.1.351 and didn’t have any significant allergic reactions when given. The first 4 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are already out the door and the company says it will be able to ship 100 million doses in the U.S. by the end of June 2021. Officials are cautioning patients not to wait for a specific vaccine, but to get appointments for vaccines that are currently available.
Will this vaccine make it easier for you to get it? Let us know in the comments.
