Will Johnson & Johnson’s Talcum Lawsuits Complicate Their COVID-19 Vaccine Roll Out?
In the last year, the U.S. has seen more than 30million cases of COVID-19 and more than half a million deaths. While many countries worldwide were hit hard by the novel coronavirus, the U.S. has had one of the world’s highest infection rates. Now, with vaccinations ramping up across the country and the Biden administration’s goal to vaccine every American who wants a vaccine by July, many people are looking at the reliability and efficacy of the three vaccines in the United States. The most recently approved vaccine, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, is facing the greatest scrutiny.
Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Lawsuits
For decades Johnson & Johnson had a squeaky clean reputation, based in part on the popularity of its baby powder and other talcum powder products. That all began to change when lawsuits popped up alleging that its talc products were causing cancer in its consumers. A Reuters investigation in 2018 revealed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos contaminated its talcum powder. In October of 2020, the company paid $100 million to settle 1,000 talcum powder lawsuits, but almost 25,000 more suits are still pending. In February of 2021, a Johnson & Johnson securities filing revealed the company set aside almost $4 billion for talc settlements.
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine
With the FDA’s emergency use authorization for the new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the company announced it would ship more than 100 million vaccines by June and one billion worldwide by the end of 2021. But consumers are already raising concerns about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of its lower efficacy rate during vaccine trials and its history with cancer-causing products.
- Vaccine Efficacy Rate
According to the CDC, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had a 66% efficacy rate during vaccine trials. This rate compares to the 95% efficacy rate of the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, the CDC indicates that all three vaccines effectively prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalizations, and death. Moreover, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was tested on the virulent South African strain of COVID-19, while the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were tested on the original COVID-19 strain.
- Johnson & Johnson’s Reputation
According to a recent Newsweek article, one in four people in the U.S. who don’t intend to be vaccinated cite concern about drug companies as a reason. Hundreds of social media posts also link the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to allegations that its products cause cancer. The company wouldn’t comment on links between its vaccine and talc lawsuits, but it did say it observes the “highest bioethical standards and guidelines.”If you believe you or a loved one deserves compensation after an injury, contact the Madeksho Law Firm at 888-910-6376 or through our online form. Your initial consultation is free, and you will never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
