One-shot COVID vaccine likely in February: Warp Speed leader

#Operation #Warp #Speed scientific director #Dr. #Moncef #Slaoui said #Wednesday that a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine may be just over a month away from US distribution.

#Slaoui said the vaccine from #Johnson & #Johnson would be a “game-changer” in ending the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think it can be quite a game-changer. #We’re hopeful that this vaccine, which is a one-shot vaccine, will have equivalent efficacy to those of #Moderna and #Pfizer,” #Slaoui said via video stream at a press briefing.

The #Pfizer and #Moderna vaccines, approved this month by the #Food and #Drug #Administration, require two shots spaced weeks apart.

#Slaoui, who shepherded the #Trump administration’s successful vaccine development investments, said “we feel more and more confident that [a] readout of [Johnson & Johnson vaccine] efficacy will take place during the month of #January, and very likely that an [emergency use authorization] submission will take place during the month of #January.”

#Slaoui said “hopefully an approval may be reached in the first half of the month of #February” for the one-shot vaccine.

#Pfizer was the first company to apply for vaccine approval on #Nov. 20. The #Food and #Drug #Administration didn’t hold a meeting until #Dec. 10 to review data indicating roughly 95 percent effectiveness and approved the vaccine on #Dec. 11.

#Moderna’s vaccine was approved for distribution on #Dec. 18.

#Slaoui said #Wednesday he does not expect the FDA to approve a vaccine candidate from #AstraZeneca until #April, citing the need for more data on elderly people — even though UK authorities approved the company’s vaccine #Wednesday.

The UK also beat US regulators to approving the #Pfizer vaccine on #Dec. 2.

#About 5.1 million doses of the #Pfizer and #Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been given to #Americans, according to government data, equivalent to roughly 1 in 60 people.

#Operation #Warp #Speed logistical director #Gen. #Gustave #Perna said #Wednesday that 14 million doses have been distributed to states — enough for roughly 1 in 20 #Americans.