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San Diego leaders excited Johnson & Johnson vaccine could soon be approved

A team of health advisers, including one San Diego doctor, endorsed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the FDA. The single-shot now awaits FDA approval.

SAN DIEGO — Pumped that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine could be rolling out soon, National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis says she cannot wait.

“We are so excited because it's a one and done, one shot no need for follow-up," said Sotelo-Solis.

Sotelo-Solis participated in the Johnson and Johnson vaccine trial and either received the actual vaccine or a placebo. She is eager for the shot to be distributed, especially after her Uncle just died from Covid-19.

"This shot equals less death, and it means less hospitalizations,” Sotelo-Solis said.

An FDA advisory panel just endorsed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Dr. Mark Sawyer is an infectious disease specialist at Rady Children's Hospital, who sits on that panel as part of the Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VERPAC.

"The bottom line is this new vaccine is very effective in preventing severe outcomes,” Dr. Sawyer said.

Despite Johnson & Johnson having a 66% effectiveness compared to Pfizer and Moderna's 95%, Dr. Sawyer says it's tough to compare the single shot to the two, especially since was tested in South America, South Africa and the U.S.

"It’s a two-step approval process, first, FDA approves the vaccine, then the CDC recommends how to use it. I'm expecting all of that to happen in the next few days, so by early next week, we're going to have all the information we need,” Dr. Sawyer said.

But there are concerns. Some people just don't like Johnson & Johnson products, but Dr. Sawyer says the vaccine is actually made by Janssen, a subsidiary of the company, separate from the manufacturer.

RELATED: Johnson & Johnson to pay $6.3 million in Infant's Tylenol settlement

"We understand, the history that Johnson & Johnson has had particularly in communities of color, but know that the people who are making decisions to make sure that these vaccines are in the arms of our communities are people who understand everything is being taken into consideration and know that Johnson & Johnson vaccine is just as safe as of the other vaccines that they FDA has approved,” said Nora Vargas, Vice Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Another major difference from the double-dose vaccines, the Johnson & Johnson one only requires one shot and just needs refrigeration. Plus, it does not have to be stored in freezers.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine side effects include headache, fatigue, muscle pain, injection site pain, fever and nausea.

Mayor Sotelo-Solis said after her shot, she experienced a "slight headache afterwards and little chill but never fever, I never had vomiting or any of the other side effects.”

if given the green light, 3 to 4-million Johnson & Johnson doses could be shipped as early as Monday.

"J&J being a single dose provides us an opportunity to use it in harder to reach communities, where it may be hard to get back for a second shot. The minute we get them, they will be put into circulation, and they will be put into arms,” said Nathan Fletcher, Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

   

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