Forbes - J & J Vaccine Goes To FDA

Plus: 1 in 5 Americans to attend virtual Super Bowl Party

Your daily Forbes Coronavirus newsletter is now renamed Forbes InnovationRx and comes with science and healthcare news from Katie Jennings on Wednesdays and Coronavirus-exclusive coverage from Leah Rosenbaum on weekdays.

Right before the Super Bowl weekend, we got two new pieces of great news. First, Johnson & Johnson announced yesterday evening that the company has applied for an Emergency Use Authorization with the FDA for its Covid-19 vaccine. This is a big deal; the J & J vaccine seems effective, doesn’t require ultra-cold freezers, and is just one dose. We’ll be following the FDA authorization process for this vaccine closely, so make sure to stay tuned. And the other good news: Covid-19 hospitalizations have dropped to the lowest levels since before Thanksgiving, potentially meaning that we’re turning the corner from this winter’s deadly surge. We’re still not out of the woods yet, but sometimes it’s the small victories that matter.

Business

President Biden is in favor of fast-tracking a Covid-19 stimulus bill, with or without Republican support. 

The U.S. added almost 50,000 jobs last month, but more than 10 million Americans are still unemployed. 

Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic the U.S. trade deficit is at its highest point since 2008.

Science & Health

The U.K. has vaccinated almost 1 in 5 adults in the country against Covid-19. 

The NFL has offered up all its stadiums as makeshift Covid-19 vaccine clinics.

What Else We Are Reading

• How the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Was Hobbled by Turf Wars and Magical Thinking (Vanity Fair)

• How AstraZeneca’s vaccine was hit by flawed trials, defects and politics — but might still save the world (Financial Times)

• Vaccines are curbing COVID: Data from Israel show drop in infections (Nature)