A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended the emergency-use approval of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine.
This paves the way for it to become the first single-dose vaccine approved for use in the US.
The vaccine advisory panel voted unanimously for the agency commissioner to issue emergency-use approval.
Its decision makes Johnson & Johnson the third approved vaccine in the US, following vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, both approved last December.
Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine has the advantage of being a single-dose shot that can be stored in a regular refrigerator, whereas the other vaccines require two doses.
At first, Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine appeared to require ultra-cold storage, but the FDA approved the company's claim that the vaccine did not actually need it.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was found to be 72 per cent effective in a US trial, but less so in South Africa and South America, with variants threatening the efficacy of vaccines.
FDA briefing documents also stated that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was effective in reducing the risk of Covid-19, preventing asymptomatic infections and avoiding medical intervention.
No patient in the vaccine trial was admitted to hospital or died from Covid-19.
Bahrain was the first country to issue emergency approval of the vaccine.
The panel held a day-long meeting to review information, discuss concerns and address questions about the vaccine before it held its vote.
The FDA is not bound to follow what the panel recommends, but it often does.
Its commissioner could issue the emergency-use approval within the next few days.
President Joe Biden's administration has ordered 100 million doses from Johnson & Johnson.
The company says it is ready to send out 20 million in March, after it receives full approval, and projects it can send the remaining 80 million by June.
The US is dealing with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the world, with the highest death toll and the most recorded cases.
It passed 500,000 fatalities on Tuesday.
The vaccination programme is well under way in the US. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention report more than 14 per cent of Americans have received one vaccine dose, while 6.8 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
Cases, deaths and hospital admissions had been on the decline from the worst surge in December and January until this week, when the downward trend appears to have stalled.
There is growing concern that with new highly transmissible variants spreading, there may be another small surge of cases.
The expectation is that the UK variant will become the dominant US coronavirus strain in March, while health authorities are monitoring ones detected in California and New York.
The rise of new variants is further emphasising the need for widespread vaccination.
Centres for Disease Control Director Rochelle Walensky said at the White House Covid-19 task force briefing Friday: "We may be done with the virus but clearly the virus is not done with us."
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Her most famous song
Aghadan Alqak (Would I Ever Find You Again)?
Would I ever find you again
You, the heaven of my love, my yearning and madness;
You, the kiss to my soul, my cheer and
sadness?
Would your lights ever break the night of my eyes again?
Would I ever find you again?
This world is volume and you're the notion,
This world is night and you're the lifetime,
This world is eyes and you're the vision,
This world is sky and you're the moon time,
Have mercy on the heart that belongs to you.
Lyrics: Al Hadi Adam; Composer: Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
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Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
SHAITTAN
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Frida%20
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