Study of first single-shot vaccine begins in US

Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against virus.

study starting Wednesday will be one of world's largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far, testing shot in 60,000 volunteers in U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

" 60,000 people will allow us to recruit more diversity globally," said Dr. Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer.

J&Js vaccine is me with slightly different techlogy than ors in late-st testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine company created. Unlike or three vaccines that started late-st testing in U.S., it requires only one shot, t two. Despite a later start to testing than some of its competitors, Dr.

"It's a single dose which could be very important for emergency use. We will later on test booster dose, and we will test boosters later on, but efficacy in phase 1 showed single dose could be sufficient to protect people for a long time," said  Stoffels, who  told reporters that study was large eugh to yield answers possibly by early next year.

A handful of or vaccines in U.S. — including shots me by Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc. — and ors in or countries are alrey in final-st testing. Hopes are high that answers about at least one candidate being tested in U.S. could come by year's end, maybe sooner.

U.S. health officials insist race for a vaccine isn't cutting corners.

"We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy — we're t going to do that — to make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives," " Dr. Francis Collins, director of National Institutes of Health, told reporters.

J&Js vaccine is me with slightly different techlogy than ors in late-st testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine company created. Unlike or three vaccines that started late-st testing in U.S., it requires only one shot, t two. Despite a later start to testing than some of its competitor.

"It's a single dose which could be very important for emergency use. We will later on test booster dose, and we will test boosters later on, but efficacy in phase 1 showed single dose could be sufficient to protect people for a long time," said  Stoffels, who  told reporters that study was large eugh to yield answers possibly by early next year.

But many vaccine specialists question wher Food and Drug ministration will stick to that goal under intense pressure from Trump ministration. President Donald Trump has consistently presented a faster timeline for a new vaccine than experts say is equate to fully test candidates.

Trump on Wednesday tweeted link to a news report about Johnson & Johnson study and said FDA "must move quickly!"

Meanwhile, testing of still ar experimental vaccine, me by AstraZeneca, remains on hold in U.S. as officials examine a safety question, even though studies have resumed in or countries.

Earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence urged state goverrs to "do your part to build public confidence that it will be a safe and effective vaccine."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants states to get rey w to roll out vaccinations, which will present ermous logistical challenges. On Wednesday CDC was set to anunce distribution of $200 million in congressionally approved funds to help begin setting up operations.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said COVID-19 vaccine campaign will build on longstanding cooperation between federal government and states on immunizations.

(Representative Im)