Trevor James
Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be protective against the Indian 'Delta' variant. According to a study from South Africa, the single-shot vaccine was 71% effective against hospitalisation and 96% effective against death when the Delta variant was dominant. While there is ongoing research on the vaccine's effectiveness against the JN.1 variant, which is spreading rapidly across Asia, including India, current WHO-listed vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in protecting against severe disease caused by circulating variants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness against the Indian 'Delta' variant | 71% effective against hospitalization and 76% against death |
| Effectiveness against the South African 'Beta' variant | 67% effective against hospitalization and 91% effective against death |
| Blood clots | 2 out of the vaccinated participants experienced blood clots with low platelet counts, but both made a full recovery |
| Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) | Occurred in about 4 people per million doses |
| GBS | The rate of GBS within the first 21 days after receiving the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was 21 times higher than after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines |
| JN.1 variant | Vaccines are expected to reduce the likelihood of severe illness |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
J&J vaccine's effectiveness against the Indian 'Delta' variant
Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine has proven protective against the Indian 'Delta' variant. According to a new study of vaccinated workers from South Africa, the vaccine was 71% effective against hospitalization and 76% against death when the Indian 'Delta' variant was dominant. The single-shot vaccine was even more effective against the Beta variant, offering 67% protection against hospitalization and 91% protection against death.
Of the vaccinated participants, only two people experienced blood clots with low platelet counts, and both made a full recovery. The study also did not find any safety concerns regarding the vaccine. Johnson & Johnson's Janssen (J&J) single-dose vaccine provides comparable levels of protection against the Alpha variants as it does against the original strain.
While the J&J vaccine is slightly less effective at preventing mild and moderate cases, it still prevents hospitalizations and deaths. India experienced a surge in new infections, high rates of hospitalizations, and deaths, many of which resulted from what was termed a "double mutation" variant. This name was given to a variant first detected and reported by a scientist in India, which carries the two mutations L452R and E484Q. Both mutations occur in key parts of the virus that allow it to enter and infect human cells.
Israel's COVID-19 Vaccine: Breakthrough or Misstep?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
J&J vaccine's side effects
Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine has been found to be protective against the Indian 'Delta' variant. The vaccine was 71% effective against hospitalization and 76% against death when the Indian 'Delta' variant was dominant. Against the South African 'Beta' variant, the single-shot vaccine was 67% effective against hospitalization and 91% effective against death.
Of the vaccinated participants, only two people experienced blood clots with low platelet counts, but both made a full recovery. The study did not find any safety concerns regarding the vaccine.
Like all vaccines, the COVID shots can, in rare cases, produce serious side effects. However, the CDC has publicly acknowledged its shortcomings with respect to data gathering during the pandemic and is taking steps to correct them.
Some common side effects of vaccines include pain, redness, and swelling where the shot is given, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain. These side effects are usually mild and temporary.
In rare cases, some vaccines have been found to have unintended side effects. For example, emerging trends in peer-reviewed scientific literature have shown evidence of a relationship between the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and shingles vaccines and various cancers, cardiovascular disease, and dementia.
It is important to weigh the benefits of vaccination, which include protection against severe disease and hospitalization, against the rare occurrence of serious side effects.
Pneumonia Vaccine: Effective for Cystic Fibrosis Children?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Vaccines' effectiveness against the JN.1 variant
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has proven effective against the Indian 'Delta' variant. When the Indian 'Delta' variant was dominant, the vaccine was 71% effective against hospitalization and 76% against death. The vaccine was also more effective against the Indian 'Delta' variant than the South African 'Beta' variant, against which the vaccine was 67% effective against hospitalization and 91% effective against death.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that people stick with the current XBB.1.5 vaccines, as they seem to provide some cross-protection against the new JN.1 variant. The WHO has also stated that all vaccines listed by the organization have demonstrated efficacy in protecting against severe disease caused by circulating variants. While vaccines may not completely block JN.1 infections, they should reduce the likelihood of severe illness.
A study of 47,561 working-aged Cleveland Clinic employees found that the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine was 23% effective against the JN.1 lineage of SARS-CoV-2. However, a higher number of prior COVID-19 vaccine doses was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19.
In Europe, the BNT162b2 XBB.1.5-adapted vaccine was found to be effective in preventing severe illness from the JN.1 variant, providing protection against hospitalization with no evidence of waning through five months. Another study in Denmark found that the BNT162b2 JN.1 booster was 70.2% effective against hospitalization and 76.2% effective against death, while the mRNA-1273 JN.1 booster was 84.9% effective against hospitalization and 95.8% effective against death.
Vaccinations: Are They Free When Traveling Abroad?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Vaccines' effectiveness against the Omicron variant
Vaccines Effectiveness Against the Omicron Variant
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines. While the original COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna protected against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, they have been updated multiple times to target different iterations of the Omicron strain.
A UK study found that primary immunization with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine provided limited protection against the Omicron variant. However, a booster shot substantially increased protection, although it waned over time. For instance, the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after two doses was 65.5% at 2 to 4 weeks, dropping to 8.8% at 25 weeks or more. Similarly, the vaccine effectiveness of the Moderna booster was 73.9% at 2 to 4 weeks, falling to 64.4% at 5 to 9 weeks.
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has also proven effective against the Indian 'Delta' variant, which is a descendant of the Omicron variant. The vaccine was 71% effective against hospitalization and 76% against death when the Delta variant was dominant in India.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all vaccines listed have demonstrated efficacy in protecting against severe disease caused by circulating variants. Vaccines remain a critical tool in combating COVID-19 and its variants, and booster shots are crucial to prevent the further circulation of new variants.
The CDC has stated that the 2024-2025 vaccines are expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants.
Chickenpox Vaccination in the UK: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Vaccines' effectiveness against the Beta variant
The Beta variant, also known as the B.1.351 lineage or 501.V2, is a variant of concern due to its potential for increased transmissibility, virulence, and reduced effectiveness of vaccines.
The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine has demonstrated robust and continued neutralizing antibody activity against the Beta variant. Trials in South Africa, where the Beta variant was circulating, showed an impact on clinical efficacy, providing good protection against the variant. However, it is important to note that antibody levels in individuals vaccinated with J&J were lower when exposed to the Beta variant compared to other variants.
The Novavax vaccine has also shown promising results against the Beta variant. Novavax has created a new version of its vaccine adapted to the Beta variant, which could be used as a 1-year booster. This vaccine uses a different technology from other authorized vaccines, delivering the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In clinical trials, it has produced fewer side effects and shown high overall efficacy against symptomatic COVID-19 infections, with 100% protection against moderate and severe disease.
Preliminary data from studies indicate that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is also effective against the Beta variant, although the exact efficacy level is not yet known.
While these vaccines offer protection against the Beta variant, it is important to continuously monitor their effectiveness as new data and variants emerge.
Summerfest: Vaccination Requirements and You
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The J&J vaccine was 71% effective in preventing hospitalisation and 76% effective in preventing death when the Indian 'Delta' variant was dominant. The vaccine was also found to be 67% effective against hospitalisation and 91% effective against death caused by the Beta variant.
The Indian variant, also known as the Delta variant, is a "double mutant" that carries two mutations: L452R and E484Q. Both mutations occur in key parts of the virus that allow it to enter and infect human cells.
The J&J vaccine is no longer available in the United States as of May 2023. While there is ongoing research on vaccine effectiveness against the JN.1 variant, it is recommended to stick with the current XBB.1.5 vaccines, as they seem to provide some cross-protection.
Vaccines remain a critical tool in combating COVID-19 and its variants. Primary preventative measures such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene are also important.
