Johnson & Johnson has begun producing a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in West Michigan. It is being produced at Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing in Grand Rapids.

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The New Jersey company is the second to base its production in Michigan, as Pfizer's largest COVID-19 manufacturing operation is based in Kalamazoo.

SEE ALSO:  President Joe Biden Tours Pfizer Plant in West Michigan

Johnson & Johnson is seeking emergence use approval for its vaccine from the Food and Drug Administration. That approval is expected on Friday. The company's Vice President John Wichelt announced on Wednesday (2/24) that distribution of the vaccine can begin as soon they get the green light from the FDA.

“Product is ready to go and I can’t tell you the exact numbers but we have been manufacturing since October,” he said.

Wichelt tells Grand Rapids TV station WMMT that the plan to use the West Michigan facility has been in the works since last summer and that it should have a positive impact on the state's economy.

"People with engineering degrees or people who have worked in manufacturing jobs in the past or a science background, these are great entry-level jobs. All the way up to people with experience, the jobs at there," Wichelt said.

The FDA reports that Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is about 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe cases of COVID-19, and about 85% effective at preventing more serious cases of the illness.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

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