SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says the new one-dose COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson should be available to state residents next week.
LINKS: Here's how to register for a COVID-19 vaccination in Utah
A panel of health advisers from the FDA endorsed the vaccine Friday afternoon, and the agency is expected to green light emergency use authorization later Friday or over the weekend.
“So many have suffered through this pandemic,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “A third authorized vaccine tells me that even through some of our darkest times, miracles still happen. This is a testament to modern research, science, public health and medicine. We are in a race to save as many lives as possible through vaccines. This vaccine will do that. Remember, all three vaccines are safe and effective. You can have confidence that any of them will protect you and those around you from COVID-19.”
Not only is Johnson & Johnson's version the only one that requires only one dose, it can also be stored in regular refrigerators. Both of these factors mean the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be easier to distribute to a larger part of the country.
Earlier in the day during a COVID-19 briefing, Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Anthony Fauci both said they were "excited" about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
"We have three highly effective vaccines...this is good news," Fauci said.
Earlier this week, an FDA report found the vaccine to safe and effective.
Echoing comments he made earlier this week, Fauci warned Americans not to be choosy when it comes to which COVID-19 vaccine they receive.
"Right now, whatever vaccine is available to you, get that vaccine," Fauci said.
Although the Johnson & Johnson's vaccine has a lower efficacy rate in clinical trials when compared to Pfizer and Moderna's clinical trials, experts warn it's not quite apples-to-apples comparisons.
The Johnson & Johnson's vaccine was put through clinical trials later on, with more variants of the coronavirus in circulation, and was tested in South Africa while the variant in that country was the dominant strain.