The FDA has confirmed that Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is 66% effective and will debate the approval of its emergency use on Friday.

The 66 percent effectiveness accounts for prevention of moderate to severe COVID-19 effects, a number that increases to 85 percent against the most serious effects from the virus.

Independent advisors will debate elements of the vaccine on Friday before the FDA makes a decision on whether or not the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may receive emergency approval in the U.S.

If authorized, Johnson & Johnson would join Pfizer and Moderna as the three companies distributing vaccines in the U.S.

When the Pfizer vaccine went through the FDA’s approval process in December, it was approved the following day after debates took place.

In a press briefing Wednesday, the White House COVID-19 response team said it is already anticipating approval from the FDA and may roll out 3 to 4 million vaccine doses starting next week. Johnson & Johnson believes it can produce 20 million doses by the end of March.

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that the number of weekly vaccines distributed to states would increase from the minimum of 13.5 million to 14.5 million, starting next week. After President Biden met with Pfizer on Feb. 19, he was assured by CEO Albert Bourla that the company can produce and deliver 200 million vaccines by the end of May.

Orange County will remain in the Purple Tier of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, as it waits for a slight drop in COVID-19 metrics, namely case rates, in order to meet California Department of Public Health criteria to move into the less restrictive Red Tier.

In doing so, the county must maintain those rates, or lower, for two weeks to move into the Red Tier, according to Dr. Clayton Chau, Director of the Orange County Health Agency.

On Tuesday, Feb. 23, OCHCA reported 250 new COVID-19 cases, with zero reported deaths. The HCA COVID-19 Task Force has vaccinated more than 500,000 people in Orange County.

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