Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine on Track to Become Third Allowed for Use in US

A government advisory panel, called the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, is likely to give its approval later today to a third COVID-19 vaccine, reports USA Today . The committee's green light will pave the way to increased supply of the much-in-demand vaccines. This latest one is from Johnson & Johnson and offers a few advantages over the two that have been administered to 45 million Americans since mid-December. The J&J vaccine requires only one shot, whereas the others — from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — need two. Also, it can be kept refrigerated instead of frozen for longer, making it easier to distribute via physicians' offices and rural outposts. Finally, it may cause fewer side effects. The downside is it may be somewhat less effective. Following the advisory panel's expected recommendation, an emergency use authorization from the FDA's acting commissioner will likely follow within days.