FDA Authorizes First One-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine For Emergency Use

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use late Saturday evening, clearing the way for members of the American public to start receiving the nation’s first single-shot COVID-19 vaccine as soon as this week.

“The authorization of this vaccine expands the availability of vaccines, the best medical prevention method for COVID-19, to help us in the fight against this pandemic, which has claimed over half a million lives in the United States,” said acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock in a statement Saturday. “The FDA, through our open and transparent scientific review process, has now authorized three COVID-19 vaccines with the urgency called for during this pandemic, using the agency’s rigorous standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization.”