WHO grants emergency use of J&J vaccine
Published:Friday | March 12, 2021 | 2:58 PM
GENEVA — The World Health Organization granted an emergency use listing for the coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson, meaning the one-dose shot can be used as part of the international COVAX effort to distribute vaccines globally, including to developing countries with no supplies.
In a statement on Friday, the WHO said “the ample data from large clinical trials” shows the J&J vaccine is effective in adult populations.
The emergency use listing comes a day after the European Medicines Agency recommended the shot be given the green light across the 27-country European Union.
The US Food and Drug Administration granted the J&J vaccine emergency authorisation last month.
A massive study that spanned three continents found the J&J vaccine was 85% effective in protecting against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
That protection remained strong even in countries such as South Africa with variants.
The UN-backed COVAX effort previously announced it had an initial agreement with J&J to provide 500 million doses, but it’s not legally binding.
Follow The Gleaner on Twitter and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.