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Johnson & Johnson seeks U.S vaccine approval for emergency authorization as hopes rise in virus fight

February 5, 2021

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson asked U.S regulators on Thursday for emergency authorization of its single shot COVID vaccine as Germany raised hopes of a potential easing of virus curbs, offering some encouraging signs in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

If approved, the vaccine would be the third in the hard hit United States and offers logistical advantages because it doesn't require two doses and the deep freeze storage needed for already approved shots.

However, trials showed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine does not protect as well against a highly transmissible virus variant first identified in South Africa, which is spreading rapidly around the world.

An advisory committee of the U.S Food and Drug Administration will meet to consider the application on February 26.

J&J says if its vaccine is authorized it is on track to deliver 100 million doses to the U.S by the end of June, a major supply of vaccine in a nation of some 320 million people.

The Red Cross launched a campaign on Thursday to help get 500 million vaccines to people in poorer countries, as Iran received its first jabs from Russia.

Pressure is growing on richer countries to help in a global inoculation effort, with Red Cross Chief Jagan Chapagain warning that the current unequal rollout "could backfire to deadly and devastating effect."

"It could prolong or even worsen this terrible pandemic," he said, promising to pour more than $100 million into an effort to distribute vaccines and encourage uptake.

So far, more than 115 million doses have been distributed around the world, but the vast majority of those doses have gone to richer nations.