Johnson & Johnson Files For Emergency Authorization for Coronavirus Vaccine

Johnson & Johnson filed for emergency use authorization from the FDA on Thursday for its coronavirus vaccine.

The drug maker’s application followed its announcement that its vaccine was just 72% effective in combating the virus. While lower than Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, both of which were granted emergency authorization in December, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is one dose instead of two and can be stored in refrigerators instead of freezers, meaning that its long-awaited approval could dramatically ease supply shortages and administration nationwide.

The vaccine has proved less effective in combating some of the new strains that are spreading around the world. In South Africa, where a highly transmissible strain originated and has since spread to the United States, the company said that its vaccine was only 57% effective.

Other vaccines’ efficiency has slightly decreased regarding new coronavirus strains as well, early studies have shown, but the pharmaceutical companies have remained confident that the recently developed vaccines will still be effective.

Even with its varying efficiency rates, Johnson & Johnson said that it believed that its one-dose vaccine would be critical in curbing the pandemic.

“This is the pandemic vaccine that can make a difference with a single dose,” said Dr. Paul Stoffels, the pharmaceutical company’s chief scientific officer.

Johnson & Johnson’s application means that it could be granted emergency authorization this month if its timeline mirrors those of Pfizer and Moderna. The company is under contract with the U.S. government to produce 100 million doses by June, enough to vaccinate almost one-third of Americans given that it is just one dose.