The vaccine is eagerly awaited because it could be given in a single dose, and is easy to store.
DSupply problems could threaten the first European deliveries of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, which could receive its marketing authorization in the EU on Thursday. The Reuters agency relays the information on Tuesday, based on a European source.
The European Commission has entered into an early purchase contract with Janssen, a subsidiary of the American group, reserving 200 million doses for the 27 EU member states, with an option to purchase 200 million additional doses. The vaccine is eagerly awaited because it could be given in a single dose, and is easy to store.
But the company informed the European Commission last week that it will be more complicated than expected to meet its target of delivering around 55 million doses to the 27 during the second quarter of this year (April-June), Reuters wrote on Tuesday on base from an official source. It is not impossible that the company still manages to honor its commitment, but supply problems of ingredients and equipment make the objective uncertain.
Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine would be the fourth coronavirus vaccine to be cleared in the EU, and it could give a welcome boost to vaccination campaigns so far slower than expected.