Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be approved by mid-March

Ireland would be entitled to 2.2 million doses of the single-shot vaccine

The new vaccine, developed by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen, would be the fourth vaccine available in Europe. Picture: Getty

A new Covid-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson could be approved in Europe as early as mid-March following an application for authorisation to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Tuesday.

The new vaccine, developed by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen, would be the fourth vaccine available in Europe, but the first one that requires just a single dose.

The European Commission has ordered 200 million doses of the vaccine, of which Ireland will be entitled ...