The one-shot coronavirus vaccine from Johnson & Johnson could actually be two doses, the Biden government said.
The vaccine, recently submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval, was considered one of the most effective ways to increase supply and bring President Joe Biden closer to his goal of 150 million gunshots in the first 100 days of his term.
J&J is currently on track to produce 100 million doses of its single-vaccine vaccine, but is trying to find a way to update the vaccine in the light of variants.
During a Washington Post Live eventAndy Slavitt, White House senior adviser on COVID-19 response, says the company is currently testing the effectiveness of its shot with an amplifier.
“Johnson & Johnson is currently evaluating how their two-dose vaccine performs, in other words with their own booster,” he told Jonathan Capehart, a columnist for the newspaper’s section.
In anticipation of the results, pending what the FDA says – if the vaccine is approved in the first place – there could be a second shot from Johnson & Johnson. ‘
The news raises concerns that the US may not be able to immunize enough of the population before the more contagious variants from the UK and South Africa become dominant in the US.
Andy Slavitt, senior White House adviser on COVID-19 response, said Thursday that Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine against coronavirus could actually be two doses. Pictured: J&J vaccination vials against COVID-19 seen in the Klerksdorp hospital as South Africa, 18 February
Slavitt (pictured) told The Washington Post Live that J&J was testing the effectiveness of his vaccine with an enhancer and that the single shot might be two.
The single shot was described as one of the most effective ways to help President Biden’s goal of 150 million doses within 100 days. The US currently vaccinates between 1.6 and 1.7 million people a day
The J&J vaccine was found to be 66 percent to prevent infections in its large worldwide trial, but only 57 percent was effective during testing in South Africa.
It is unclear whether this will delay FDA approval for the emergency vaccination.
If regulators approve the vaccine, it will be the third shot made available to the US public after vaccines from Pfizer Inc / BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc were approved in December.
Unlike the two current vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, J & Js do not need to be frozen.
It also does not use new mRNA technology, but rather combines genetic material of the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus – which causes colds – to elicit an immune response.
This is the same technology with which the company made an experimental Ebola vaccine for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo at the end of 2019.
Currently, 40.2 million Americans – 12.2% of the population – have received one dose and 15.4 million – 4.6% of the population – have been fully immunized.
Slavitt says states have used 46% of their vaccine supply o 75% since Biden took office on January 20
Following the J&J application, regulators will need time to analyze the data and meet an advisory committee.
Last month, dr. Paul Stoffels, J & J’s head scientific office, said J&J is on track to export the vaccine in March.
It remains unclear whether this recent revelation by Slavitt will affect implementation.
The US has an agreement to buy 100 million doses of J & J vaccine for $ 1 billion, and the option to buy another 200 million doses.
On Thursday, dr. Fauci confirms that J&J is still on target for the purpose of its single dose, and confirms that the company is making a two-shot dose.
It costs the vaccine about $ 10 per dose, but the New Jersey drugmaker has promised not to price the vaccine for profit.
By comparison, the US pays $ 19.50 per dose for the Pfizer vaccine and $ 32 to $ 37 per dose of Moderna’s jab.
Meanwhile, the rubbish developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford costs between $ 3 and $ 4 per dose.
J&J said it wants to deliver one billion doses of production in the United States, Europe, South Africa and India by 2021.
President Biden aims to get 150 million shots into Americans’ arms by the end of April, his first 100 days in office
Slavitt told Washington Post Live that states have used 46% to 75% of their stock since Biden took office.
He added that there are currently enough vaccines to vaccinate every person in the US by July, but that does not include the J&J vaccine.
“We will let the FDA decide and adopt nothing,” Slavitt said.
It’s part of letting science lead and not pushing the White House off. ‘
