Canada becomes first country to fully approve Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine
CBSN
Canada has granted full approval for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for adults 18 years and older, the pharmaceutical company announced Wednesday. Canada is the first country to fully authorize the Johnson & Johnson shot.
"Today marks the first major regulatory approval for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and an important moment to recognize the dedication of everyone involved in our COVID-19 vaccine development, our partners, the regulators and clinical study participants," Johnson & Johnson's vice chairman of the executive committee and chief scientific officer Paul Stoffels, M.D. said in a statement.
Health Canada granted the company's vaccine full authorization after initial data from a clinical study showed that it was 85% effective in preventing severe disease, and, starting 28 days after vaccination, it provides protection against hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. The data also revealed that protection against COVID-19 increases when a booster shot of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is administered and that booster shots are safe and generally well-tolerated.
Strong storms with damaging winds and baseball-sized hail pummeled Texas on Tuesday, leaving more than one million businesses and homes without power as much of the U.S. recovered from severe weather, including tornadoes, that killed at least 24 people in seven states during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.