The World Health Organization (WHO) listed the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a part of Johnson & Johnson, for emergency use in all countries and for COVAX rollout, according to a news release from the organization.
The decision comes shortly after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorization of the vaccine.
“The vaccine from Janssen is the first to be listed by WHO as a single dose regimen, which should facilitate vaccination logistics in all countries. “The ample data from large clinical trials shared by the company also shows that the vaccine is effective in older populations,” the WHO said.
To expedite listing of the vaccine, WHO and a team of assessors from all regions adopted what is called an ‘abbreviated assessment’ based on outcomes of the EMA review, and evaluation of quality, safety and efficacy data focused on low- and middle-income country needs, the WHO said, adding that it also considered suitability requirements such as cold chain storage.
