The United States has authorized the emergency use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, making it the third COVID-19 vaccine to receive the green light in the fight against the virus that has caused over half a million deaths in the country.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Janet Woodcock, the acting head of the FDA, stated that "the authorization of this vaccine expands the list of available vaccines, which are the best medical prevention against COVID-19, helping us combat this pandemic that has resulted in over half a million deaths in the United States."
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine but emphasized the need to remain cautious. "As I have said many times, it is still likely that things could worsen again with the spread of new variants of the virus, and this could affect the current improvement," Biden added in his statement. "This is good news for all Americans, and a promising development in our efforts to end the crisis."
It is noteworthy that the vaccine manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, which has already begun to be used in South Africa, is particularly awaited globally because, unlike other vaccines, it only requires a single dose. It also has another logistical advantage as it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures, greatly facilitating its distribution.
