埼玉英語会英検１級・準１級　コミュのJohnson & Johnson vaccine: FDA approves single-shot jab

*A jab is an injection of something into your blood to prevent illness.

US regulators have formally approved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus
vaccine, the third jab to be authorised in the country.

The vaccine is set to be a cost-effective alternative to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and can be stored in a refrigerator instead of a freezer.

Trials found it prevented serious illness but was 66% effective overall when
moderate cases were included.

The vaccine is made by the Belgian firm Janssen.

The company has agreed to provide the US with 100 million doses by the end of June. The first doses
could be available to the US public as early as next week.

The UK, EU and Canada have also ordered doses, and 500 million doses have also
been ordered through the Covax scheme to supply poorer nations.

President Joe Biden hailed it as "exciting news for all Americans, and an encouraging
development", but warned that the "fight is far from over".

"Though we celebrate today's news, I urge all Americans - keep washing your hands,
stay socially distanced, and keep wearing masks," he said in a statement.

"As I have said many times, things are still likely to get worse again as new variants
spread, and the current improvement could reverse."