The first single-dose vaccine COVID-19 can obtain emergency approval in just two weeks, said Dr. Anthony Fauci on Friday.
“I would be surprised if it were more than two weeks from now that the data would be analyzed and decisions would be made” about the vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson of New Jersey, Fauci said during an appearance on ” The Rachel Maddow Show. “
“We will analyze the data and determine if it is ready to be provided to the public,” said Fauci, “so that they can go to the FDA to ask if they can obtain an emergency use permit.”
Fauci said the U.S. government is working with different companies on six vaccine candidates, two of which have already received authorization for emergency use, one from Pfizer and the other from Moderna. Both require refrigerated storage and two doses.
The J&J vaccine does not have the same need to be kept super cold, said Fauci, and requires only one dose. These factors will make a big difference in the ability to send photos to people, he said. “This gives a wider range of flexibility,” he said.
Johnson & Johnson said it expects to have 100 million doses available by April.
Any additional vaccines made available will be a boost to the city and state, which are running out of doses as New Yorkers struggle to schedule vaccination appointments. Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote a letter on Friday to President Joe Biden begging for more vaccine shipments.