FDA Authorizes Johnson & Johnson's One-Shot COVID-19 Vaccine

March 1, 2021

A health care worker holds a vial of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at Klerksdorp Hospital in Klerksdorp, South Africa, on Feb. 18. PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

A third COVID-19 vaccine is on the way, and this one requires only one shot for immunization.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Johnson & Johnson's vaccine for emergency use Saturday, a day after a panel of advisers to the agency voted unanimously (22-0) in its favor.

"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 a statement by Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock.

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/02/27/972009978/fda-authorizes-johnson-johnsons-one-shot-covid-19-vaccine