Johnson & Johnson says it has four million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine ready for shipment “immediately” as soon as it receives emergency use authorization, which could happen this week.
In a recently released analysis, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the company’s single-dose vaccine met the requirements for emergency use authorization.
However, despite the excitement and anticipation, there are still several steps that Johnson & Johnson must take before the vaccine is available.
Here’s what happens next:
The FDA’s Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meets on Friday to review vaccine data and decide whether to recommend it for emergency use authorization in adults over 18.
Once the vaccine is authorized, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee, or ACIP, makes recommendations to the CDC on how the vaccine should be used, such as in which age groups and in which age groups. type of programming. An emergency ACIP meeting is scheduled for February 28 and March 1.
Usually, the CDC director accepts the committee’s recommendation. Shortly thereafter, the vaccine can be distributed and can begin to enter arms.
What everyone wants to know is where the federal government will send these doses and to whom they will be directed.
“We hope that ACIP will provide some guidance on the most effective use of the J&J single dose vaccine,” wrote Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, in an email to CNN on Tuesday.
“States are looking for guidance on the use of the vaccine in populations that may actually benefit from the full-dose series, such as transient populations,” said Hannan. “We are not hearing much about it.”
You can read more about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine here.