Today is Thursday, February 25th, and you're listening to The Morning Announcements.

I'm Sammy Sage.

Let's start with the good news today, Vaccine Updates.

An FDA review released yesterday found that the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine

is safe and effective at completely preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

Specifically, the shot was found to be 85% effective at preventing severe illness and 66%

protective overall when moderate cases were included.

The vaccine is expected to be authorized for emergency use as soon as this weekend, and

because it can be stored in a normal refrigerator for several months, there are significantly

fewer challenges for distribution than with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Supplies expected to ramp up to 20 million doses by the end of March, and I will gladly

take one of them.

In other good vaccine news, there's increasing evidence that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines

cut down on biotransmission.

Two recent studies, one from the UK and one from Israel, both showed over an 85% reduction

in someone's chances of developing an infection that they could pass along.

I mean, I am just so excited to have people's droplets in my face again.

Remember Lewis DeJoy?

I know, I wish I didn't either.

Post-Mass or General Lewis DeJoy was called to testify before the House Oversight and

Reform Committee yesterday about slow delivery service and financial crises at the U.S.

Postal Service.

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