Johnson & Johnson vaccine to receive EU authorisation

Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is set to officially receive EU authorisation, making it the fourth approved coronavirus immunisation manufacturer within the union.

The highly anticipated J&J product only requires one jab compared to the two for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and it does not require deep freeze storage. The EU has faced significant criticism for its slow vaccine distribution thus far and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has sought to deflect blame onto manufacturers instead. Some 51.5 million doses have already been delivered through February 26, and von der Leyen has vowed to raise the number from 100 million doses in April to 300 million by the end of June.

Over 40 million people have been vaccinated in the EU as of March 6, lagging behind the US’s 87.9 million and the UK’s 22.9 million in terms of population percentage. Expect EU member states to catch up to these vaccination programs, which will likely lead to a new round of eased restrictions on movement. The national lockdowns imposed in Italy, Belgium, Czechia and parts of France have continued to affect revenue from the now-stagnant tourism sector and policymakers will likely seek public health expert approval prior to reopening borders to international travel.

Wake up smarter with an assessment of the stories that will make headlines in the next 24 hours. Download The Daily Brief.