If this “baby” can fly, it’s mine!!!
If the developers claims, that the vaccine, prevents 85% of hospitalizations and death, is validated by independent scientific review panels, everybody, including all developing countries, should sit up and take note. After all, (the big dread by governments and National Health systems, is the worry, that Health Services could be overrun by high numbers of hospitalizations and death, caused by complications, triggered by the COVID-19 virus.
Acceptable levels of efficacy assumed, the Johnson & Johnson one shot vaccine offers an amazing series of advantages compared to its earlier competitors.
At a base price of US$10 per dose, this could retail at about the cost of the annual flu shot.
That means that the average person may very well be able to secure an annual vaccination against the classical covid-19 virus or it’s variants, if that becomes necessary.
The strong likelihood being, that each annual vaccination, would boost protection against the virus and it’s mutations. Protecting more and more members of beneficiary populations, while moving ever closer to the coveted state of heard immunity.
The vaccine can be safely stored at 36°F to 46°F for up to three (3) months.
Therefore, the average government health center, almost anywhere in the Caribbean, will be able to hold their weekly or monthly supply of the vaccines depending on demand and supply considerations.
Interestingly, it does not appear that the Johnson and Johnson study, reported any significant side effects among its study participants.
If, this claim is validated, it will be a big selling point to an already skeptical population set.
Perhaps, the single greatest advantage is the fact that, a country which has on order, 20,000 doses, can vaccinate 20,000 of its citizens and residents, instead of 10,000, as would be the case with earlier releases of covid vaccine.
I guess the big question is, will black and brown populations around the world, get anywhere near this vaccine within the foreseeable future.
Reference: “Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine is 66% effective in global trial, but 85% effective against severe disease, company says”
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/health/johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-results/index.html
Arvel Grant
Public Health and International Development Specialist