Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine Could Bring Herd Immunity by These Dates

Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine Could Bring Herd Immunity by These Dates

The Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last week, with health experts telling Newsweek that its approval could enable the United States to achieve herd immunity by early summer.Researchers said the rollout of the J&J shot, in addition to the two mRNA vaccines already available, would significantly accelerate the mass immunization program, especially because the former is easier to distribute, store and administer.Peter Pitts, president and co-founder of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, said that given the current rate of vaccination—the U.S. is administering nearly 2 million shots a day—the country could reach herd immunity by Memorial Day on May 31 at the earliest or Independence Day on July 4 at the latest.

Researchers estimate that herd immunity will be reached when 65 to 85 percent of the U.S. population—around 330 million people—has been vaccinated.Johnson & Johnson has produced around 4 million doses, but the company estimates that it will have 100 million ready by June. These will arrive in addition to the 600 million shots that Pfizer and Moderna have said they will deliver by July, meaning the country will have more than enough to cover the population.The