FORECAST IN JUST A FEW MINUTES
AM BACK TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, JANICE.
THANKS.
SEE YOU SOON.
>>> WE TURN NOW TO AMERICA’S
RACE TO VACCINATE.
WE COULD BE JUST HOURS, EVEN
MINUTES AWAY FROM ADDING THAT
THIRD VACCINE TO THE FIGHT
AGAINST THE PANDEMIC.
>> THE FINAL CDC DECISIONS ON
THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOT COULD
COME AT ANY TIME AFTER AN
OUTSIDE FDA ADVISORY PANEL VOTED
LATE TODAY THE RECOMMEND THE
FULL FDA AUTHORIZATION.
>> NEWS 4’S RAY VILLEDA LIVE FOR
US NOW TO EXPLAIN HOW SOON THE
TRI-STATE COULD SEE THOSE DOSES.
RAY?
>> Reporter: NATALIE AND DAVID,
THE EMERGENCY AUTHORIZATION FROM
THE FDA IS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND
AFTER THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE
JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE.
IT WOULD BE THE THIRD VACCINE
THAT IS FIGHTING THE SPREAD OF
COVID-19, AND IT COULD BE IN
NEW JERSEY RIGHT ACROSS THE
RIVER IN A MATTER OF DAYS.
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE
PANDEMIC, ANOTHER WEAPON.
AN FDA ADVISORY PANEL
RECOMMENDING FRIDAY NIGHT THE
FDA MOVE FORWARD WITH EMERGENCY
AUTHORIZATION FOR THE JOHNSON &
JOHNSON VACCINE.
>> WE’RE IN A RACE BETWEEN THE
VIRUS MUTATING, NEW VARIANTS
COMING OUT THAT CAN CAUSE
FURTHER DISEASE AND STOP IT.
>> Reporter: THIS WOULD MAKE THE
J & J VACCINE THE THIRD SHOT
AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS IN THE
RACE TO VACCINATE.
THE OTHERS ALREADY APPROVEDROM
MODERNA AND PFIZER MAY SOMEWHAT
BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING
ILLNESS.
STILL, JOHNSON & JOHNSON’S WILL
ONLY REQUIRE ONE DOSE AND IS
ALREADY EFFECTIVE AGAINST NEW
VARIANTS.
IT ALSO IS 100% EFFECTIVE AT
PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND
DEATHS.
>> GET VACCINATED.
THE VACCINE THAT’S AVAILABLE TO
YOU, GET THAT VACCINE.
>> Reporter: ONCE APPROVED,
J & J SAYS 4 MILLION DOSES COULD
GO OUT NEXT WEEK, 20 MILLION BY
THE END OF MARCH.
AND NEW JERSEY’S GOVERNOR SAYS
70,000 DES COULD ARRE IN THE
GARDEN STATE THIS COMING WEEK.
>> HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF HOUR
CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE AN
EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
VACCINES, THIS WOULD BE EVEN
MORE.
>> Reporter: IT WOULD BE A
WELCOME EDITION IN NEW YORK CITY
TOO WHERE NEW VACCINE SITES ARE
OPENING UP BUT LONG LINES ARE
ALSO BECOMING AN ISSUE.
>> IT’S HARD TO GET AN
APPOINTMENT THESE DAYS SO WHEN
AN OPPORTUNITY ARISES, YOU SEES
IT AND ROLL WITH IT.
>> Reporter: THOSE CONCERNS
PROMPTING HIGH SCHOOL
SOPHOMORE IN MANHATTAN TO START
A VOLUNTEER GROUP TO HELP NEW
YORKERS GET THE SHOT.
IT WOULD REQUIRE PEOPLE TO FILL
OUT AN ONLINE FORM, THEN THE
GROUP SETS OUT TO FIND THEM AN
APPOINTMENT QUICKLY A MISSION TO
HELP NEW YORK REGAIN NORMALCY
ONE SHOT AT A TIME.
>> MY HOPE IS TO IMPACT NEW YORK
CITY LIVES BECAUSE I KNOW IT’S,
LIKE, ALMOST, LIKE, THE WILD
WEST WHEN YOU’RE TRYING TO
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.
IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
>> Reporter: ALSO, STARTING
TODAY INDOOR DINING EXPANDS IN
NEW YORK CITY TO 35%.
A LOT OF RESTAURANT OWNERS HAPPY
FOR THAT 10%.
BUT EVEN MORE OF THEM ARE HOPING
FOR 50% INDOOR DINING LIKE THE