Single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be approved Friday

When the Pfizer vaccine was approved for emergency use on a Friday in December, states started getting doses early the following week. Officials from area counties and hospitals said they expect a similar timeline for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

"While we are excited about the prospect of a third vaccine product potentially being available to the community soon, it’s too early to know if WakeMed will receive J&J vaccine allocation," WakeMed spokeswoman Kristin Kelly said, noting state officials determine local vaccine allotments.

"With the previous two vaccines, state leaders shared information related to shipments and allocations shortly before/after the FDA approval," UNC Health said in an email. "At this point, UNC Health doesn’t have any information from [the state Department of Health and Human Services] related to specific amounts or timing of shipments, but we are hopeful that more details will be shared soon."

"We try to reach out to as many sites as we can to get closer to folks, but I think it would be a little less labor intensive to have a one-time dose," said Bruce Robistow, Halifax County's health director.

"Obviously, any increase in vaccine availability will help us get more people vaccinated," Orange County spokesman Todd McGee said. "Orange County has the capacity to ramp up our vaccination efforts once we receive more vaccine."

Another advantage to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is storage. It doesn’t have to be kept at ultra-cold temperatures like Pfizer's vaccine, so officials expect it to reach more pharmacies and places in North Carolina.

However, one potential pitfall of the one-dose vaccine: It may not be as effective as the two-dose vaccines.

However, Robistow said the efficacy rates are still very strong.

"Flu vaccines, on their best day, have a 40% efficacy," he said.

The FDA will reviewing how the new vaccine could handle some of the newer coronavirus variants as well.