Johnson & Johnson trials show that vaccine is effective, even against variants

Johnson & Johnson’s single-vaccine coronavirus vaccine protects against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, preventing hospitalization and death in all participants 28 days after vaccination, according to new clinical trial results published Wednesday.

The vaccine was on average 67 percent effective against moderate to severe critical COVID-19 at least 14 days after administration, and 66 percent effective at 28 days after vaccination, according to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The vaccine was approximately 77 percent effective against severe / critical COVID-19 14 days after administration, and 85 percent after 28 days.

The results are consistent with the initial numbers reported by the company in January – the vaccine offers a protection level above the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimum, but lower than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

Additional data collected since the announcement in January found no evidence that protection had diminished over time, following around 3,000 participants over 11 weeks and 1,000 participants over 15 weeks, the company said.

The results come from the company’s massive clinical trial that spanned three continents and enrolled a total of 43,783 participants.

It is important that the vaccine also shows efficacy against rapidly spreading variants, including the B.1.351 variant, which was identified in 95 percent of the COVID-19 cases in South Africa, and the P2 variant, which was identified in 69 percent. of the COVID has been identified. 19 cases in Brazil.

In South Africa, the vaccine was 64 percent effective against moderate to severe / critical illness, and the effectiveness was 82 percent against serious / critical illness that began 28 days after vaccination.

Efficiency was also maintained among participants in Brazil, with 68 percent efficacy against moderate to severe / critical illness, and 88 percent against severe / critical illness.

Protection was generally consistent in racial and age groups, including adults over 60 years of age, and those with and without pre-existing conditions.

“This comprehensive evidence shows that Johnson & Johnson’s single shot COVID-19 vaccine provides protection and prevents hospitalization and death, even in countries where viral variants are common,” said Paul Stoffels, chief executive officer of Johnson & Johnson. said a statement.

“Regardless of race and ethnicity, age, geographical location and comorbidities, these results remain consistent. A single-shot vaccine that provides this level of protection is a key tool in the global fight against COVID-19 as we strive to end this deadly pandemic. The safety and well-being of every person who receives a Johnson & Johnson product remains our top priority, and these data confirm our confidence in the protective benefits of our COVID-19 vaccine, ”said Stoffels.

The use of the vaccine in the US is currently being stopped due to concerns about an extremely small number of severe blood clots in combination with low blood platelets in individuals who received the vaccine.

An advisory panel for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet for the second time Friday to discuss the next steps for the vaccine.

In an example of the CDC meeting, the European drug regulator on Tuesday recommended that a warning be added to the vaccine about the possible link with blood clots, but noted that it is “very rare” and that the benefits are still growing is as the risks.

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