Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to President Biden and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that he “would definitely take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine” in a recent Q&A video on Twitter.
There’s now a third safe COVID-19 vaccine, so we asked Dr. Fauci to walk us through the newly-authorized Johnson & Johnson option: The way it works, it’s effectiveness, and whether he’d take it himself. (The answer is yes!) pic.twitter.com/Zb0eYQzNTU
— White House COVID-19 Response Team (@WHCOVIDResponse) February 28, 2021
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 27, making it the third safe and effective vaccine available in the U.S. The vaccine is a single dose and does not require special refrigeration.
According to Fauci, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a particular vaccine platform. The vaccine is injected into the body, the body recognizes a protein and makes it a good immune response against the entire virus.
“The COVID vaccine doesn’t give you COVID because it’s not the virus. It’s just one protein from the virus that induces your body to make a good response against the whole virus,” Fauci said.
When asked whether individuals should be concerned that the vaccine is 66% effective, Fauci said that “it’s not.” The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 72% effective against moderate to severe disease in the U.S. and virtually 100% effective against hospitalization and death, as proven by recent trials. The vaccine is 66% effective overall, as trials were conducted across multiple countries and newly emerging variants.
The Food and Drug Administration has issued an emergency use authorization for a third safe and effective vaccine to help us defeat the COVID-19 pandemic: the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — putting us one step closer to overcoming the virus and getting back to our loved ones.
— White House COVID-19 Response Team (@WHCOVIDResponse) February 27, 2021
Vaccine distribution centers are expected to receive 3.9 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as early as March 2, according to White House officials. A total of 20 million doses are expected to be distributed throughout the month of March.
