One-dose shot looks promising
Johnson & Johnson says vaccine protects against COVID-19, but not as effectively as two-dose rivals
Johnson & Johnson’s long-awaited vaccine appears to protect against COVID-19 with just one shot — not as strong as some two-shot rivals but still potentially helpful for a world in dire need of more doses. Vaccination programs are off to a rocky start globally. ● J&J said Friday that in the U.S. and seven other countries, the single-shot vaccine was 66% effective overall at preventing moderate to severe illness, and much more protective — 85% — against the most serious symptoms. ● But with some other competing vaccines shown to be 95% effective after two doses, at question is whether somewhat less protection is an acceptable trade-off to get more shots in arms quickly.
Johnson & Johnson’s long-awaited vaccine appears to protect against COVID-19 with just one shot – not as strong as some two-shot rivals but still potentially helpful for a world in dire need of more doses.
J&J said Friday that in the U.S. and seven other countries, the single-shot vaccine was 66% effective overall at preventing moderate to severe illness, and much more protective (85%) against the most serious symptoms.
There was some geographic variation. The vaccine worked better in the U.S. – 72% effective against moderate to severe COVID-19 – compared to 57% in South Africa, where it was up against an easier-to-spread mutated virus.
“Gambling on one dose was certainly worthwhile,” said Dr. Mathai Mammen, global research chief for J&J’s Janssen Pharmaceutical unit.
With vaccinations off to a rocky start globally, experts were counting on a one-dose vaccine that would stretch scarce supplies and avoid the logistics nightmare of getting people to return for boosters.
But with some other competing vaccines shown to be 95% effective after two doses, at question is whether somewhat less protection is an acceptable tradeoff to quickly administer more shots.
“Frankly, simple is beautiful,” said Dr. Matt Hepburn of Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government’s vaccine initiative.
The company said that within a week it will file an application for emergency use in the U.S., and then abroad. It expects to supply 100 million doses to the U.S. by June and a billion doses globally by the end of the year. J&J wouldn’t say exactly how much could be ready to ship as soon as U.S. authorities give the green light.
These are preliminary findings from a study of 44,000 volunteers that isn’t completed. Researchers tracked illnesses starting 28 days after vaccination – about the time when, if participants were getting a two-dose variety instead, they would have needed another shot.
After day 28, none of the people who got vaccinated needed hospitalization or died regardless of whether they were exposed to “regular COVID or these particularly nasty variants,” Mammen said. When the vaccinated people did become infected, they had a milder illness.
Early data are mixed on exactly how well all the different kinds work, but shots made by Pfizer and Moderna appear to be about 95% protective after the second dose.
That makes for a dilemma: Wouldn’t people, given a choice, want a vaccine found to offer more protection?
In related news, rival AstraZeneca’s two-dose vaccine was authorized for use in adults throughout the European Union Friday. Like the J&J vaccine, it can be stored in a refrigerator.