The Ability to Use Medical Refrigerators Sets the J&J Vaccine Apart
On February 27, 2021, the FDA issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for Janssen’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine for patients age 18 and up. Janssen is a Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company.
In addition to requiring only one dose to be effective, the other key benefit of the J&J vaccine is that it remains stable in a medical refrigerator for months.
We’ve looked forward to this advancement for some months.
• Back in December 2020, Operation Warp Speed (OWS) scientific director Dr. Moncef Slaoui said a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine was on its way and would likely be a “game-changer.”
This is terrific news for patients and providers, especially in the remote and rural areas, and medical deserts of the US, where small clinics might not own the ultra-low temperature freezers needed to maintain the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. And on a global scale, this advancement will eventually make remote COVID-19 clinics a reality for even the most difficult-to-reach populations.
