A panel of scientists and doctors is reviewing J&J's one-dose coronavirus vaccine today. Here's what to watch for and how to follow along.
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- Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine will face a crucial review Friday from an expert panel convened by the FDA.
- The meeting, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET to 5:30 p.m. ET, is expected to ultimately put J&J's shot one step closer to a regulatory OK.
- The FDA is live-streaming the all-day meeting on YouTube.
- Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.
Johnson & Johnson's single-dose coronavirus vaccine is facing a crucial review on Friday, as an independent panel of experts will vet the data and then vote on whether or not to recommend the shot for emergency authorization.
US Food and Drug Administration regulators released their own summary of J&J's data on Wednesday, finding the shot to be safe and effective. Friday's panel is widely expected to recommend that FDA OK the shot, which could allow regulators to take action in the coming days or week.
The healthcare giant ran a study with about 40,000 volunteers, comparing its vaccine to a placebo. That trial found the shot was 66% effective at preventing moderate-to-severe COVID-19. The first two US-authorized vaccines demonstrated 94% and 95% efficacy at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19, though experts caution against comparing those figures directly.
J&J has emphasized its vaccine's ability to prevent the worst outcomes of COVID-19. Starting two weeks after receiving an injection in the study, 31 people were hospitalized with COVID-19: 29 had received the placebo shot and just two had gotten J&J's vaccine. The study also tallied seven deaths from COVID-19 - all in the placebo group.
J&J has said it will have nearly 4 million doses ready to ship upon emergency authorization and is on track to deliver 100 million doses to the US by the end of June. Beyond the much-needed supply bump, public-health experts are eager to roll out the vaccine for its simplicity: it's a single-dose vaccination that can be stored at typical refrigerator temperatures for several months.
The committee meeting is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern time, and will end with an advisory vote on whether FDA should issue an emergency-use authorization. FDA isn't required to follow the panel's advice. An EUA would likely allow the shot to be given widely to people 18 and older. You can watch the meeting on YouTube here.
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