Mass. receiving 100,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses next week

BOSTON — Governor Charlie Baker says the state is set to receive “north of 100,000 Johnson & Johnson doses” next week.

“It’s a big deal,” Baker said Wednesday.

“We got some very good news from the federal government yesterday with respect to next week. The first really significant shipment of the one-dose J&J vaccine will be going out nationwide. The total amount to be distributed next week is 10 million doses. That’s five million doses, right, that’s a big deal. Five million doses through the retail pharmacy program and then another five million doses to states,” Baker said Wednesday.

“Here in Massachusetts, that’ll be definitely north of 100,000 doses of J&J vaccine and I can’t tell you how important that is. As I said before, thank God Pfizer and Moderna were there when they were there but the difference between two doses and one dose is not just convenience, it’s also capacity. If you think about all the people who you can serve with one dose and not have to schedule a second dose and take up a second seat at some point later on, it basically doubles the amount of capacity that is available and in addition to that the speed with which somebody actually becomes fully vaccinated.”

Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose coronavirus vaccine was approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month.

The news of the shipments comes as the state is approaching its date where nearly all residents will become eligible for the vaccine.

“I think for many of us this is a big sign and a big statement and we have heard many times that it’s coming, that it’s coming, and this is a big sign that things are actually starting to get here,” Baker said.

Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts

>> Complete Covid-19 vaccine coverage

RESOURCES:

- Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here

- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW

- Download our free apps for your phone and smart TV