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As FDA advisers recommend authorization of a 3rd vaccine, a Covid-19 surge hangs in the balance

(CNN)Even with a third vaccine nearing authorization and a rise in vaccination rates, officials say another devastating Covid-19 spike could be on the horizon depending on what the United States does next.

“The question that hangs in the balance right now is, will we have a fourth surge?” Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Thursday. “Every uncontrolled spread increases the risk that there will be dangerous variants that can be more infectious, more deadly, or can escape from immune protection.”
FDA vaccine advisers recommend authorization of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine
A US Food and Drug Administration committee on Friday recommended that Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine be authorized for emergency use. The FDA is expected to act on the recommendation quickly, meaning the vaccine may be available early next week.
That’s as the number of reported vaccinations reported by the US Centers for Disease Control Friday was almost 2.2 million more than reported a day earlier. The seven-day average of vaccinations reported was about 1.6 million Friday. Now, 14.2% of the total US population has received at least one dose, according to the CDC.
Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock and Dr. Peter Marks, who heads the FDA’s vaccine arm, said in a joint statement that emergency use authorization would come soon.
“The agency has also notified our federal partners involved in vaccine allocation and distribution so they can execute their plans for timely vaccine distribution,” according to the statement.
Andy Slavitt, a senior adviser to the Covid-19 response coordinator at the White House, said in a Twitter post that he expects the FDA to make its decision on emergency use authorization Saturday. “A third safe and effective vaccine is very welcome news,” Slavitt tweeted.
If the FDA grants the vaccine emergency use authorization as expected, CDC advisers are due to meet Sunday to recommend to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky whether people could actually get the vaccine. Walensky would then give the final go-ahead. President Joe Biden has said if the vaccine is approved, it will be rolled out immediately.

Source: As FDA advisers recommend authorization of a 3rd vaccine, a Covid-19 surge hangs in the balance