Raleigh, NC The Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine could be up and running next week.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisers will begin Friday at 9 a.m. to discuss possible emergency approval for the shot, which was endorsed by the FDA earlier in the week. If the vaccine is formally approved, it could be distributed in the US by the middle of next week, officials say.
The Wake County Department of Health and other counties across the state have staff and resources to vaccinate more people, but supply is limited. A third vaccine could help speed up the process, especially with Johnson & Johnson intending to deliver 100 million doses in the US by June.
Some North Carolina residents have been participating in the Johnson & Johnson vaccination test for months. Joe Belanger, of Raleigh, received the vaccine or a placebo late last year. He said it was a relief because he knew he could have an effective vaccine.
“It went smoothly,” Belanger said. ‘It was really nice to have that counter-narrative in your head [instead of that] Judgment Day of, ‘Gosh, what if I have it.’ It’s been so nice to say for the past four months, yes, but what if I get the vaccine? ‘
Even after the vaccine has been approved and people have been vaccinated, the trial will take years.
Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, which require two shots of about one month apart, Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose and can be stored in a normal refrigerator. The vaccine is 72% effective, lower than the others, but dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN the vaccine has “very good efficacy against serious diseases.”
Several experts agree – everyone should get the COVID-19 vaccine available to help the country develop herd immunity.