Newest vaccine arriving next week
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, also known as the Jannsen vaccine, will be arriving in Humboldt County next week.
Humboldt County vaccine task force member Lindsey Mendez said the vaccine is administered via a sole injection, with immunity building during a period of two weeks to one month.
Responding to an inquiry from the Times-Standard, Mendez said Humboldt County has already been allocated a number of the new vaccine doses from the state.
The immune response to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine occurs differently than it does for the two-dose vaccines now available, which use messenger RNA to trigger a response creating immunity to the COVID-19 virus’ spike protein. While the processes are different, the end result is largely the same.
“(The Johnson & Johnson vaccine) is a bit different,” Mendez explained. “We are giving a shot that laboratory members have engineered using an adenovirus, which would normally give you a common cold, but it carries the DNA for the COVID-19 spike protein, and then in your own cell, in the nucleus, you’re creating the information from the DNA to be immune to COVID-19.”
“So even though it’s a little bit different, it’s similar in the way in which it is going to be working for us,” she added.
Mendez explained that despite the difference in name, both vaccines use the same engineering; Jannsen Pharmaceutical, a Belgium-based subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, supported and sponsored the vaccine’s development.
Mendez presented the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines during a similar media availability update ahead of their arrival in the region. Those vaccines have been available in Humboldt County since December.
The message regarding Johnson & Johnson comes days after county health officer Ian Hoffman encouraged Humboldt County residents to accept whichever vaccine is offered to them at their appointment.
Hoffman has stated there is no medical reason to choose one vaccine formula over the others, but recognized many may prefer a formula for personal reasons, noting difficulties in making it to appointments and wanting to receive only one shot.
Speaking to concerns over efficacy of the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine, first rated at around 70 percent, compared to vaccines offered by Moderna and Pfizer, Hoffman pointed to U.S. trials showing an efficacy rate upward of 87 percent.
“It is still a very good vaccine and has a lot of benefits to it. I hope people will consider it.”
People who lack internet access or cannot operate computers or online devices can call 707-4415000 to register for a vaccine appointment.
Vaccines for seniors over 65 and Phase I healthcare workers who did not receive their immunizations in previous rounds are available at the Eureka CVS at 800 West Harris St. As that vaccination site receives federal funding, it is not managed by Humboldt County Health authorities.
By the numbers
Humboldt County All figures represent those tested in the county. Numbers current as of March 4: 3,266: Total number of positive cases 33: Deaths 135: Total number of hospitalizations 3,113: Total number of recovered cases 75,344: Total number of tests completed
County vaccine numbers (updated every Wednesday)
31,803: Total vaccine doses administered 10,435: Individuals fully vaccinated 7.68%: % of population fully vaccinated 10,933: Individuals partially vaccinated 8.04%: % of population partially vaccinated Source: Humboldt County Joint Information Center
California Numbers represent those in California affected by the virus as reported by the state. Numbers current as of March 4: 3,493,126: Tested positive 53,448: Deaths Source: California Department of Public Health