Canada clears Johnson & Johnson vaccine, first to approve 4

March 05, 2021 22:44

Canada is getting a fourth vaccine to prevent COVID-19 as the country's health regulator has cleared a Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose instead of two, officials said Friday.

Health experts are eager for a one-and-done option to help speed vaccination. Canada has also approved vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca and Health Canada is the first major regulator to approve four difference vaccines, said Dr Supriya Sharma, Health Canada's chief medical adviser.

Canada has pre-purchased 10 million Johnson & Johnson doses, with options to buy another 28 million. It was not immediately clear when Canada would get its first shipment.

"This is the fourth vaccine to deemed safe by Canada's health experts and with millions of doses already secured, we're one stop closer to defeating this virus," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted.

The US approved Johnson and Johnson last month. The US Food and Drug Administration said J&J's vaccine offers strong protection against what matters most: serious illness, hospitalisations and death.

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