Madison Clarke
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the emergence of several variants, with Omicron designated as a variant of concern due to its high number of mutations, increased transmissibility, and potential resistance to vaccines. While initial COVID-19 vaccines were highly effective, with efficacy rates exceeding 94%, the emergence of variants like Omicron led to reduced protection against infections. However, these vaccines still offered significant protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. In response to the evolving nature of the virus, vaccine manufacturers have updated their formulas to provide better protection against Omicron and other circulating variants. The updated vaccines are expected to be available in the fall of 2025 and will target the Omicron KP.2 and JN.1 lineages, which are currently the dominant strains causing most infections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| J&J Vaccine protection against Omicron | The J&J vaccine does not specifically mention protection against Omicron, but it does protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death. |
| Updated mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines | The updated 2024-2025 mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech target the Omicron KP.2 lineage and are expected to provide better protection against the Omicron variant. |
| Vaccine Efficacy | The efficacy of vaccines wanes over time but can be restored with booster doses. |
| Omicron Variant | The Omicron variant has a high risk of transmission and possible resistance to vaccines. |
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What You'll Learn
Effectiveness against severe illness and hospitalisation
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired as of May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US. However, those who received the J&J shot are considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for getting one of the currently available updated vaccines.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the FDA and granted emergency use authorization to include a monovalent component that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2. The vaccines have been updated to more closely target currently circulating variants and provide better protection against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
During September 2024–January 2025, the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination provided additional protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalisations among adults with and without immunocompromising conditions, compared to not receiving a 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Among adults aged ≥65 years with immunocompromising conditions, VE was 40% during the first 7–119 days after vaccination.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated Omicron as a variant of concern (VOC) due to its many mutations, leading to a higher risk of transmission and possible resistance to vaccination. However, in countries where vaccination rates are high, there are currently low levels of hospitalisation and deaths due to Omicron. Vaccination prompts the body's immune response to the virus, which not only protects against circulating variants, including Omicron, but also likely offers protection from severe disease and death.
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Omicron's high transmission rate
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired on May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US. However, those who received the J&J shot are considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for getting one of the currently available updated vaccines.
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has demonstrated a significantly higher rate of asymptomatic transmission than previous variants. This high rate of asymptomatic transmission has likely contributed to the rapid global spread of the Omicron variant.
A study in Denmark found that the secondary attack rate was 29% in households with the Omicron variant and 21% in households with the Delta variant. The odds of infection were higher across the board for Omicron, with unvaccinated individuals having 1.10 times the odds of infection compared to Delta, fully vaccinated individuals having 2.38 times the odds, and booster-vaccinated contacts having 3.20 times the odds.
The higher transmissibility of Omicron compared to Delta is attributed to a combination of immune evasiveness and an inherent increase in transmissibility. The large number of asymptomatic carriers has made it difficult to track and contain the spread of the variant.
While the current vaccines may not completely prevent infection with Omicron, they are still expected to be effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Updated vaccines are continuously being developed to target new variants and provide improved protection.
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Vaccine efficacy waning over time
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired as of May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US. Those who received the J&J shot are considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for getting one of the currently available updated vaccines.
The efficacy of vaccines can wane over time, and this was observed with the original mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. These vaccines, first introduced in December 2020, offered high protection against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, with efficacy rates of around 95%. However, as new variants emerged, the vaccines became less effective in preventing infections, although they remained highly effective in preventing severe illness.
The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and its subvariants drove infections worldwide, leading to the development of updated vaccines targeting this variant and its lineages. The updated mRNA vaccines were designed to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. The vaccines were also expected to offer additional protection against COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among adults, irrespective of their previous infection history.
To address waning vaccine efficacy, booster doses are often recommended to restore the immune system to robust levels. The composition of COVID-19 vaccines is anticipated to be assessed annually to keep up with emerging variants, similar to seasonal influenza vaccines.
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The need for a booster dose
The Omicron variant, designated as a variant of concern by the WHO due to its high number of mutations, has exhibited a significant growth advantage over previous variants like Delta, resulting in rapid community spread. The emergence of Omicron and its subvariants, such as KP.2 and JN.1, has highlighted the need for updated vaccines that specifically target these circulating strains.
Vaccine efficacy against emerging variants, such as Omicron, tends to wane over time. However, the good news is that a booster dose can effectively restore protection. This is because boosters enhance the immune response generated by the initial vaccination series, increasing the production of antibodies and specialized immune cells, such as T cells, that recognize and fight off the virus.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2025-2026 are designed to target the Omicron variant and its subvariants, including the KP.2 and JN.1 lineages. These new vaccines will provide better protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death caused by currently circulating variants. Clinical trials have demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of these updated vaccines, with efficacy rates exceeding 94%.
It is important to note that the composition of COVID-19 vaccines may need to be reassessed annually, similar to seasonal influenza vaccines, to keep up with the evolving nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Health organizations, such as the CDC and ACIP, provide ongoing recommendations and approvals for COVID-19 vaccine boosters to ensure the public has access to the most effective protection against the virus and its variants.
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The importance of high vaccination rates
While the J&J vaccine's effectiveness against the Omicron variant specifically is unclear, vaccination is expected to provide important protection against severe disease and death caused by Omicron, as it does with the other variants still in circulation. In countries where vaccination rates are high, we are currently seeing low levels of hospitalization and deaths due to Omicron.
High vaccination rates are critical to reducing the spread of the virus and preventing the emergence of new variants. The more people who are vaccinated, the less opportunity the virus has to spread and mutate. This is especially important for vulnerable populations, as high vaccination rates can help prevent overwhelming demands on healthcare systems and reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Additionally, high vaccination rates can help ease the burden on healthcare systems and reduce the strain on healthcare workers. It can also contribute to a faster recovery from the pandemic and a quicker resumption of social and economic activities.
Furthermore, vaccines are most effective when a large portion of the population is vaccinated. This concept is known as herd immunity, where the vaccination of a significant portion of the population provides a measure of protection to those who cannot be vaccinated or who have compromised immune systems.
While no vaccine provides 100% protection, the COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccination, along with public health measures, remains the most effective way to protect ourselves and others from the harmful effects of the virus.
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Frequently asked questions
The J&J vaccine has been updated to better protect against the Omicron variant. The updated mRNA vaccines are expected to provide protection against COVID-19 caused by the currently circulating variants, including Omicron.
The updated vaccines are expected to provide protection against the Omicron variant. The World Health Organization states that the vaccines should offer protection against the dominant variant and will be effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2025-2026 will be available in the fall.
The FDA has restricted the updated vaccine for those 65 and older or for younger individuals 6 months and older with an underlying condition that would put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection.
![Omicron [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61N0xWW7HrL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
