Johnson & Johnson to begin testing its COVID vaccine on teens

Johnson & Johnson announced Friday that it will begin testing its COVID-19 vaccine on teenagers.

The pharmaceutical firm released a statement saying it would begin tests on teens 16 and 17 years old.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on adolescents, not just with the complications of the disease, but with their education, mental health, and wellbeing," Dr. Paul Stoffels, M.D., the firm's chief scientific officer, said in the statement. 

The study will be held in intervals of one, two, and three months after the shots to observe teens' response to the vaccine, according to the Associated Press.

The tests will be conducted in Spain and the United Kingdom.