West Michigan continues to be in the national spotlight as another COVID-19 vaccine is produced here, this time here in Grand Rapids.
MSN.com reported a New Channel 3 story that Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing here in Grand Rapids was tapped by Johnson & Johnson to produce the single-dose vaccine that received emergency use approval Saturday from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Johnson & Johnson dose is the second COVID-19 vaccine to be produced in West Michigan, and the third to be approved for emergency use. Pfizer Inc., as we know, is producing its two-dose vaccine at its facility in Portage.

The J&J vaccine is the only Covid-19 vaccine so far to be given in a single dose. Moderna and Pfizer's use two. Like Moderna's, it can also be kept at regular refrigerated temperatures and does not need a deep freeze like Pfizer's. A single dose would be much easier to administer and would mean more people could be vaccinated, as none would need to be set aside to give someone a second shot.

Earlier last week, Grand River Aseptic said they have been manufacturing the vaccine since October in anticipation of approval.

Scientists with the FDA determined the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, and about 85% effective against the most serious illness.

Tests showed the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 95% effective at protection against symptomatic COVID-19.

As of Feb. 27, Michigan reached 581,581 COVID-19 cases with 15,523 deaths related to the virus.

LOOK: Answers to 30 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

While much is still unknown about the coronavirus and the future, what is known is that the currently available vaccines have gone through all three trial phases and are safe and effective. It will be necessary for as many Americans as possible to be vaccinated in order to finally return to some level of pre-pandemic normalcy, and hopefully these 30 answers provided here will help readers get vaccinated as soon they are able.

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