Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine hit a production hurdle – potentially delaying the delivery of millions of life-saving vaccines by two months, according to a report on Wednesday.
The pharmaceutical giant, which promised to provide 12 million single-dose injections by the end of February, warned health officials that the company was left behind, according to Politico.
Now it can take Johnson & Johnson to the end of April to achieve the original projection, an informed person told the vehicle.
But a representative for the pharmaceutical giant denied that it was experiencing a slowdown in production – saying the company is “confident in our ability to meet our 2021 supply commitments”.
“We continue to have active discussions with regulators, including on the approval and validation of our manufacturing processes,” said the representative. “Operation Warp Speed is working with Johnson & Johnson to increase and maximize manufacturing of the Janssen vaccine … Making projections at this point is premature.”
On Monday, Operation Warp Speed co-director Moncef Slaoui hinted that there may be a delay in Johnson & Johnson’s initial target of 12 million, saying doses of “one million digit” would likely be delivered on Monday mid-February.
The company, which has pledged to release 100 million doses by the end of June, will seek emergency FDA approval for its candidate vaccine COVID-19 later this month.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is considered critical for fighting the pandemic in part because it requires only one dose – and does not need to be stored in sub-zero temperatures.
In contrast, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two separate doses. The Pfizer vaccine should be stored at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit.