The United States reached a new milestone as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data showed that over half of adults in America have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC Data Tracker shows that 50.4% of U.S. persons who are 18 years of age or older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 32.5% are fully vaccinated. Cases of COVID-19 have been steadily dropping since mid-January.
Three vaccines have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA granted emergency authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December for use in individuals 18 or older. The vaccine is part of a two-dose regimen, spaced 28 days apart, and has been shown to be more than 94% effective at preventing COVID-19 beginning at least 14 days after the second dose. The FDA granted emergency authorization to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in December for individuals 16 years or older. That vaccine is also part of a two-dose regimen, spaced three weeks apart, and has been shown to be 95% effective at preventing COVID-19. It was the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the FDA.
Last week, the FDA and CDC called for a pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires one dose for immunization. The pause comes as officials look into a potential link to a type of rare blood clot. Six cases of the blood clot have been reported in the U.S. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered in the U.S.
The FDA granted emergency authorization for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in February for use in individuals 18 years of age or older. An FDA analysis of trial data found that no one who received the vaccine was hospitalized for COVID-19 or died from COVID-19 beginning 28 days after the vaccine was administered.
On Sunday, The Daily Wire reported that White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci made a prediction about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Fauci said, “My estimate is that we will continue to use it in some form. I doubt very seriously if they just cancel it.”
“I do think that there will likely be some sort of warning or restriction or risk assessment. I don’t think it’s just going to go back and say, ‘OK, everything’s fine. Go right back,’” he said. “I think it’ll likely say, ‘OK, we’re going to use it but be careful under these certain circumstances.’”
A CDC advisory panel is expected to hold a meeting on Friday in order to determine if the pause on the vaccine should continue or be lifted. Fauci said that he believes the officials will come to a decision during the meeting on Friday.
“I think by that time we’re gonna’ have a decision. Though I don’t want to get ahead of the CDC and the and the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] and the advisory committee, but I would imagine that what we will see is that it would come back and it would come back in some sort of either wanting a restriction,” Fauci said later on Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Last week, The Daily Wire reported that the CEO of Pfizer said that people will “likely” need to be administered a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within 12 months of being fully vaccinated, adding that many might also need to get vaccinated each year to be protected against the virus.