CONTACT: Frank Fortin
202.223.7189; ffortin@aphanet.org

WASHINGTON, DC – Statement from Scott J. Knoer, MS, PharmD, FASHP, executive vice president and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, upon the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision today to authorize emergency use of Janssen Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine:

“Since the first COVID-19 vaccines were authorized more than two months ago, hundreds of thousands of trained and trusted pharmacists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians have been willing, ready and able to administer the vaccine to individuals across the country. With this newly authorized COVID vaccine, in addition to the growing supply of currently authorized vaccines, more pharmacists will be able to do their part as vaccinators and vital members of the immunization neighborhood, thereby increasing access to these vital tools.

“We welcome the FDA’s authorization of the Janssen vaccine. The addition of another safe and effective vaccine to our toolbox means that we are another step closer to our goal of vaccinating everyone we can as quickly as possible, and controlling this terrible pandemic.”