A single-shot coronavirus vaccine has been approved for use in the UK.
The vaccination by Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical arm Janssen is confirmed to be 67% effective in preventing moderate to severe covid symptoms and 85% effective in preventing severe symptoms or hospitalisation.
The vaccine will be available in the UK by the end of this year.
Welcoming the approval Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This is a further boost to the UK's hugely successful vaccination programme, which has already saved over 13,000 lives, and means that we now have four safe and effective vaccines approved to help protect people from this awful virus.
"As Janssen is a single-dose vaccine, it will play an important role in the months to come as we redouble our efforts to encourage everyone to get their jabs and potentially begin a booster programme later this year."
The vaccine is part of the UK's Cov-Boost study which is looking at the effectiveness of a range of vaccines that could be used as a booster shot in the autumn.
The UK has ordered 20 million doses of the vaccine, which England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, has previously said could be used for hard-to-reach groups of people, where recalling them for a second jab is not always successful.
The vaccine can be stored at normal fridge temperatures which means it could be used for distribution in places such as care homes.
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "The Janssen vaccine will be another weapon in our arsenal to beat this pandemic.
"We are doing everything we can to vaccinate all adults as quickly as possible and I encourage everybody to come forward for a jab as soon as they are eligible."
