About 20 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot as the rate of vaccinations in the United States rises sharply. Here’s a look at the vaccines that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and where other vaccine candidates stand.
How many vaccines are now allowed in the US?
Three: of Pfizer-BioNTech, Modern and Johnson & Johnson. Pfizer’s was the first, in December, with Moderna’s shortly thereafter; each is given in two shots that are three to four weeks apart. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine, which was approved last month, is given in one dose.
Is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine widely available?
Not yet. When approved on February 27, Biden administration officials warned that stocks would be limited for the first month, with initially 3.9 million shots and by the end of March 16 million more.
Johnson & Johnson promised to deliver 37 million doses by the end of March last year and a total of 100 million by the end of June, but he is still working to increase production on that scale. A recent agreement with Merck is intended to increase manufacturing and packaging capacity.
President Biden said last week that the federal government would order another 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s shot.
Which vaccine can the FDA approve next?
Novavax may apply for emergency approval for the two-stroke vaccine at the end of April. It offers robust protection, although it has not been as effective against a variant that is circulating rapidly in South Africa as against other versions. Novavax could deliver 110 million doses by the end of June if the FDA clears the vaccine for use.
AstraZeneca, whose vaccine has been authorized in more than 70 countries, has not yet reported the results of its clinical trial in the US, nor has it applied for authorization in the US
The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, has experienced problems. European countries have suspended its use due to concerns about blood clots, although no evidence of causal linkage has been found. Some people in Germany also refuse to receive it because of its lower overall efficacy in clinical trials compared to other vaccines.
When can all Americans be vaccinated?
Mr. Biden said he would have a mandate by May 1 to expand all countries to include every adult – about 260 million people. No vaccine has yet been allowed for children.