The Johnson & Johnson coronavirus shot vaccine may actually be two doses, Biden’s administration said.
The vaccine, which was recently submitted for approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was hailed as one of the most effective ways to help increase supply and bring President Joe Biden closer to his goal of 150 million shots in the country for the first 100 days of his term.
J&J is currently on track to produce 100 million doses of its single injection vaccine, but is trying to find a way to update immunization in the face of variants.
However, during a Washington Post Live eventAndy Slavitt, a senior adviser to the White House on COVID-19’s response, said the company is testing the effectiveness of its injection with a booster.
“Johnson & Johnson is currently evaluating the performance of its vaccine with two doses, in other words, with its own booster,” Jonathan Capehart, a columnist for the newspaper’s opinion section, told newscaster.
Pending the results of this, it depends on what the FDA has to say – if the vaccine is approved first – there may be a second injection from Johnson & Johnson. ‘
The news raises concerns that the United States may not be able to immunize enough of the population before the most contagious variants in the United Kingdom and South Africa become dominant in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine may actually be two doses, said Andy Slavitt, a senior adviser at the White House on the response to COVID-19, on Thursday. In the photo: vials of J&J vaccine against COVID-19 seen at Klerksdorp Hospital in South Africa, February 18
Slavitt (pictured) told The Washington Post Live that J&J is testing the effectiveness of its vaccine with a booster and that the single shot could become two
The single shot was hailed as one of the most effective ways to help President Biden’s goal of 150 million doses administered in 100 days. The US is currently vaccinating between 1.6 and 1.7 million people a day
The J&J vaccine had a 66% infection prevention rate in its large global trial, but only 57% effectiveness when tested in South Africa.
It is unclear whether this will delay FDA approval of the inoculation for emergency use authorization.
If regulators approve the vaccine, it will be the third injection made available to the American public after the vaccines from Pfizer Inc / BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc were approved in December.
Unlike the two vaccines currently authorized by Pfizer and Moderna, J&J do not have to be shipped frozen.
It also doesn’t use new mRNA technology, but it combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus – which causes the common cold – to induce an immune response.
It is the same technology the company used to make an experimental Ebola vaccine for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2019.
Currently, 40.2 million Americans – 12.2% of the population – have received a dose and 15.4 million – 4.6% of the population – are fully immunized
Slavitt says states have gone from 46% of their vaccine supply to 75% since Biden took office on January 20.
After applying J&J, regulators will need time to analyze the data and an advisory committee will need to meet.
Last month, Dr. Paul Stoffels, Scientific Director at J&J, said that J&J was on its way to launch the vaccine in March.
It is not yet clear whether this recent revelation by Slavitt will affect the launch.
The US has an agreement to buy 100 million doses of the J&J vaccine for $ 1 billion, and the option to buy an additional 200 million doses.
On Thursday, Dr. Fauci confirmed that J&J is still on target for its single dose target and confirmed that the company is making a two-dose dose.
The vaccine is priced at about $ 10 per dose, but the New Jersey drugmaker has promised not to price its vaccines for profit.
In comparison, the US is paying $ 19.50 per dose for Pfizer’s immunization and $ 32 to $ 37 per dose of Moderna’s jab.
Meanwhile, the jab being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has an estimated cost of between $ 3 and $ 4 per dose.
J&J said it plans to deliver one billion doses in 2021 with production in the United States, Europe, South Africa and India.
President Biden plans to get 150 million shots in the arms of Americans by the end of April, his first 100 days in office
Slavitt told Washington Post Live that states have gone from 46% to 75% of their supply since Biden took office.
He added that there are currently enough vaccine purchases to vaccinate everyone in the U.S. by July, but that does not include the J&J vaccine.
“We are going to let the FDA make a decision and assume nothing,” said Slavitt.
This is part of letting science lead and not having the White House push aside. ‘
