Johnson & Johnson said Monday it plans to have enough doses of its vaccine for more than 20 million Americans by the end of March if its vaccine is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.
The vaccine is eagerly awaited as the next in line to join the already used COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. An FDA advisory committee meets Friday to review the application and emergency authorization may arrive shortly thereafter.
The company, for the first time, on Monday gave some specifics as to the number of doses it will have immediately available. The vaccine, unlike those from Pfizer and Moderna, requires only one dose, so 20 million doses would completely vaccinate 20 million people.
“Assuming the necessary regulatory approvals related to our manufacturing processes, our plan is to begin shipping immediately after emergency use authorization and deliver enough single doses by the end of March to allow vaccination of more than 20 millions of Americans, “said Richard Nettles The president of U.S. medical affairs at Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is part of Johnson & Johnson, said in statements prepared for the House Trade and Energy Committee. The comments were posted online by the committee ahead of Tuesday’s hearing with several vaccine manufacturers.
The company also said it will stay at the rate of having 100 million doses by the end of the first half of the year.
Johnson & Johnson doses, assuming FDA approval, can help speed up the vaccination program by adding them to doses already available at Pfizer and Modern, and needing just one dose can simplify the process.
White House officials had previously said they did not expect many doses of Johnson & Johnson immediately.
Separately, Pfizer is also increasing its supply. John Young, the company’s commercial director, said in a testimony released by the committee that the company will be able to increase production to 13 million doses per week by mid-March, from 4 to 5 million a week in early February. .
The company says it is on track for 120 million doses by the end of March and 200 million doses by the end of May.