OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — The one-shot coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson is expected to receive emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.
Health officials in the Kansas City metro believe this will ultimately help with local supply.
“Adding another (vaccine) to the arsenal is fantastic news," Johnson County Department of Health and Environment Director, Dr. Sanmi Areola, said.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be stored at standard freezer temperatures, helping ease storage requirements that could make delivery of the vaccine easier. The vaccine also requires only one dose.
“Not having to organize a first and second clinic and just doing one means we can get more vaccines into the arms of many more people,” Areola said. “I know that there are a few steps to go before it becomes available but we’re closer to then we were a month or two ago.”
If the FDA authorizes the vaccine, Areola warned it will take a couple weeks before the increased supply will have an impact locally.
