CULTURE

Johnson & Johnson Enters Final Stages of Vaccine Testing

by brittanylhart posted on September 23, 2020
mi1333/ Shutterstock

The race for a vaccine for COVID-19 has been on since the virus began wreaking havoc on our nation, and it looks as if Johnson & Johnson is in the final stages of preparing a vaccine.

Multiple companies have been working on a vaccine and having trials that began this summer. However, J&J is the first to come up with a single dose vaccine, one that would only require one shot instead of two. Phase 3 of J&J’s testing will include 60,000 participants, and there is hope for results by the end of this year.

News of the final stages comes after conflicting comments from President Trump. Back in August, the President was confidently sharing that the vaccine would be ready before Election Day, something that Dr. Anthony Fauci has denied. Just days ago, Trump came under fire for saying that COVID-19 “virtually affects nobody” at a rally in Ohio. These comments spark confusion among the American people just as the death toll reaches 200,000 in the U.S. Nevertheless, Trump continues to boast progress on the development of a vaccine.

While the President continues his flipflop on the seriousness of COVID-19; the American people also share distrust in J&J being the company in the lead for vaccine development. Social Media has been quick to remind people about the legal issues J&J has faced in over the last few years. There are concerns about a company that hid the risks of cancer from the use of their baby powder, now being responsible for creating a vaccine for the well-being of Americans. The company has also been a target of several lawsuits regarding the current opioid epidemic, with those suing stating that the medications produced by the company contributed to rampant opioid addiction.

For now, we can only wait for the results of phase 3 with J&J, as well as the other companies. Once those trials are complete, then comes the distribution of the vaccine. Experts are already predicting that the majority of Americans may not have access to the vaccine until the end of 2021. Until then, we can continue to maintain hygienic practices and social distancing, to support our health and the health of others.

CULTURE

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