The single-shot

coronavirus vaccine by Johnson & Johnson was found to be safe and

effective, and completely prevented hospitalisations and deaths, a Food and

Drug Administration review revealed today.

The results

came from a large clinical trial and are another step towards the approval of a

third vaccine in the United States, possibly as early as this weekend.

The Johnson

& Johnson vaccine was found to be 85 per cent effective at preventing severe

illness but its overall protection was 66 per cent when moderate cases were

included.

The FDA

scientists found that the “known benefits” of the vaccine included reducing the

risk of symptomatic and severe cases of covid-19 at least two weeks after

vaccination.

The news comes at a critical time in the US fight against the virus, as the nation marked half a million fatalities to the virus this week. Two vaccines – from Moderna and Pfizer – which both require two doses, were previously granted emergency authorisation use in the country.