CLEVELAND — It's a potential game-changer in the fight against COVID-19.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found Johnson & Johnson's single-dose coronavirus vaccine to be safe and effective. If it's approved later this week, it would become the third vaccine on the market.
Johnson & Johnson says it could provide 20 million additional doses by the end of March.
Despite the fact its efficacy rate is not as high as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, there are still big benefits to the Johnson & Johnson shot. It still works.
"Already shown in high-risk populations the effectiveness goes up to the mid 80s," says Dr. Abhi Duggal of Cleveland Clinic.
That means that a vaccinated person has a far lower risk of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.
The J&J shot is one dose. That's convenient for some populations who may not be willing or able to come back for a second dose. It's easier to transport and only requires refrigeration, not the frigid temps the other two need. So that means it would be easier to get to homebound people who currently can't be vaccinated.
There were no reports of severe allergic reactions and side effects were minimal.
"All of the vaccines are efficacious and this is also about availability and supply, so if you can get the vaccine, any vaccine, it will protect you," says Dr. Ardeshir Hashmi of Cleveland Clinic.
More importantly, the J&J vaccine is proving useful against the current variants. Not perfect, but better than nothing. And if we're planning mass vaccinations eventually, we simply need more supply. An FDA independent panel will meet Friday to hear the data and the endorsement and it may be authorized by the weekend. One thing you won't be able to do right now, is shop around for a certain vaccine.
"The one thing that we absolutely do know is that people who get any vaccine are going to be much better off than people who get no vaccine," Dr. Hashmi said.
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