Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine may actually be TWO doses

BREAKING NEWS: Johnson & Johnson’s long-awaited one-shot COVID-19 vaccine may require TWO doses, White House coronavirus advisor says

  • Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose COVID-19 vaccine was hailed as a way to increase supply and more quickly vaccinate the U.S. population
  • But on Thursday, Andy Slavitt, the White House senior advisor on COVID-19 response, said the company is testing the effectiveness of its shot with a booster
  • It’s unclear whether this will delay the vaccine being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization

Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine may actually be two doses, the Biden administration said.

The vaccine, which was recently submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval, was hailed as one of the most effective ways to help increase supply and bring President Joe Biden closer to his goal of 150 million shots in arms in the first 100 days of his term. 

However, during a Washington Post Live event, Andy Slavitt, the White House senior advisor on COVID-19 response, say the company is currently testing the e effectiveness of its shot with a booster.

The news raises concerns that the U.S. 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 U.S.

It’s unclear if this will delay FDA approval of the inoculation for emergency use authorization.

Johnson & Johnson's one-shot coronavirus vaccine may actually be two doses, the Biden administration said on Thursday (file image)

Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot coronavirus vaccine may actually be two doses, the Biden administration said on Thursday (file image)

Unlike the two currently authorized vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, J&J’s does not need to be shipped frozen.

It also does not use new mRNA technology but rather combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus – which causes the common cold – to induce an immune response.

It is the same technology the company used to make an experimental Ebola vaccine for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2019. 

After the J&J’s application, regulators will need time to analyze the data and an advisory committee will need to meet.   

Last month, Dr Paul Stoffels, J&J’s Chief Scientific Office, said J&J was on track to roll out the vaccine in March.

It remains unclear if this recent revelation by Slavitt will effect the rollout.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated. 

source: dailymail.co.uk