NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., October 18, 2021 – Johnson & Johnson welcomes the U.S. government’s decision to donate 17 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 single-shot vaccine to countries in the African Union (AU). The United States is providing these doses through COVAX, committed to the AU, under an agreement signed recently by the U.S. government, Johnson & Johnson, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
A total of nearly 50 million doses of the Company’s vaccine have now been committed for donation by the U.S. government to approximately 40 countries across four continents via COVAX. To date, roughly half of these doses have been shipped.
“We strongly support the continued leadership shown by the U.S. government in ensuring lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines can be redirected to where they’re most urgently needed,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer and Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, Johnson & Johnson. “The commitment of countries with excess doses to global vaccine equity is critical if we are to accelerate the end of this pandemic.”
The new U.S. donation will complement the work of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), which on a parallel track is procuring COVID-19 vaccines on behalf of the AU’s 55 Member States. The U.S. government’s donations are in addition to Johnson & Johnson’s own commitment to make available up to 900 million single-shot vaccines directly to COVAX and AVAT combined through 2022.
“From the beginning of our COVID-19 response, we’ve understood that no one is safe until everyone is safe,” Stoffels added. “We recognize that a single-shot vaccine compatible with standard distribution channels has the potential to be a crucial tool to help vaccinate the world during a pandemic.”
All recipient countries for U.S. vaccine donations are designated by the U.S. government. UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) provide logistical support for COVAX. Johnson & Johnson provides certain supply chain and logistical support to ensure donated vaccines can be delivered to recipient countries as quickly as possible.
Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding development of a potential preventive vaccine for COVID-19. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021, including in the sections captioned “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and in the company’s most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.