Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses coming to Mid-Missouri just days after approval
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Johnson & Johnson started shipping its coronavirus vaccine across the U.S on Monday, just two days after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization.
The company said it plans to roll out 3.9 million doses initially to state and local governments, federal distribution sites and select pharmacies. The company hopes to have doses delivered as early as Tuesday morning.
In Mid-Missouri, local health organizations including the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, Cole County Health Department, Audrain County Health Department and MU Health Care are patiently waiting to hear when J&J vaccine doses will be available.
Madison Loethen, a spokesperson for Boone Hospital Center, said the hospital is expecting 1,000 doses of J&J this week and 500 first doses of Moderna.
"We are working on choosing days and staffing clinics for these new doses as soon as possible," she said.
Dr. Robin Blount with Boone Hospital welcome the J&J vaccine given the lack of supply compared to demand.
"We are the happy recipients of 1,000 doses this week," she said. "Boone Health is able to distribute that level of vaccine, we got the email this morning and we are already planning on how to get that into people's arms."
Brad Myers with MU Health Care said even though it is unclear if or when MU Health Care will get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it is expecting 4,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine and nearly 2,300 Pfizer doses this week.
"Every vaccine that hits the market is an additional opportunity to get a shot in arms and vaccinate the community, so if we are fortunate enough to receive J and J we will find a way to make sure those shots get in arms," he said.
The J&J vaccine is a single-dose shot that can be stored in normal refrigerators, while the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines need to be stored at below-freezing temperatures and require two shots.
J&J expects to supply 100 million doses to the U.S. by June.
