Canada approves use of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

US regulators are working "rapidly" to finalise emergency use authorisation for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine which is on track to become America's third shot against the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 509,000 people in the last 12 months alone - the country's deadliest year.

After eight hours of non-stop debate, the high powered but usually obscure Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted overwhelmingly in favour of okaying a single dose Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine for people aged 18 and older.

"Following today's positive advisory committee meeting outcome regarding the Janssen Biotech Inc. Covid-19 Vaccine, the US Food and Drug Administration has informed the sponsor that it will rapidly work toward finalisation and issuance of an emergency use authorisation, FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock said in a statement late on Friday. The agency has already notified federal partners involved in vaccine allocation and distribution to get ready for the rollout.