France approves J&J's Janssen Covid-19 vaccine

PARIS:

France’s health regulator said on Friday it had approved Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine for use in France, a day after it was approved by the European Union authorities.

“The Covid-19 Janssen vaccine can be used on people from the age of 18 ... within the framework of the French vaccination strategy, including for people aged 65 and older and who might have illnesses,” the Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) said in a statement.

HAS said the vaccine was efficient and well tolerated by patients. It will be the fourth vaccine on the French market.

The European Medicines agency (EMA) approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Thursday, paving the way for the first shots to be delivered in a month.

In February, top French health authority cleared AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine for use, but advised against giving it to people over 65.

The decision echoes an earlier verdict by Swedish authorities, but is at odds with the European Union which last week approved the vaccine for adults of all ages.

France's HAS health authority also said that pharmacists would be authorised to administer the jabs produced by the Anglo-Swedish firm.

The conditional backing for the vaccine came days after President Emmanuel Macron told reporters that the vaccine was "quasi ineffective for people over 65."

Germany and Italy have also said that other vaccines should be given priority for the elderly.

The age controversy compounds a row over a shortfall in deliveries from AstraZeneca that has forced the EU to recalibrate its vaccination strategy.

The EU Commission said the firm had been able to guarantee just 25 per cent of the more than 100 million doses promised, but on Sunday officials said the number would be boosted to 40 million.

Unlike vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, the one made by AstraZeneca can be stored long-term in ordinary refrigeration units.

However, its efficacy is reported at just 60 per cent, compared with more than 90 per cent for the rival coronavirus vaccines introduced earlier.