J&J vaccine - The African Mirror

Jul

2021

‘Data shows J&J vaccine works well against Delta variant’

DATA from laboratory studies show Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine works well against the Delta variant that now dominates new infections in South Africa, the head of the country's Medical Research Council has said. "All the data that we see indicate good immediate and sustained immune response against Delta, and we see surprising durability in the immune response for the single dose J&J right up to eight months," Glenda Gray told a news conference. South Africa is using the J&J and Pfizer vaccines in its immunisation campaign.

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Lifting of J&J vaccine pause recommended

COVID-19

SOUTH Africa's health regulator has recommended that the government lift the pause on administering drugmaker Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccines, given that certain conditions are met. "These conditions include, but are not limited to, strengthened screening and monitoring of participants who are at high risk of a blood clotting disorder," the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said. "In addition, measures are to be implemented to ensure the safe management of any participants who develop vaccine-induced thrombosis and thrombocytopenia (VITT)," the statement added. SAHPRA said on Wednesday that it had recently reviewed data from Johnson & Johnson's local research…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

J&J vaccine panic: SA finds no major safety concerns

COVID-19

MICHAEL ERMAN and MANAS MISHRA The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) today announced that it had recently reviewed data from Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) local research study immunising healthcare workers and found no major safety concerns. SAHPRA added that it was awaiting additional data from J&J and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The reassurance came after the world went on to full alert and the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been suspended after six US women under age 50 developed rare blood clots after receiving the shot, dealing a fresh setback to efforts…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

How does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine compare to other coronavirus vaccines? 4 questions answered

COVID-19

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine in adults. Maureen Ferran, a virologist at the Rochester Institute of Technology, explains how this third authorized vaccine works and explores the differences between it and the Moderna and Pfizer–BioNTech vaccines that are already in use. MAUREEN FERRAN, Associate Professor of Biology, Rochester Institute of Technology 1. How does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine work? The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is what’s called a viral vector vaccine. To create this vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson team took a harmless adenovirus – the viral…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

U.S. authorizes J&J’s vaccine

COVID-19

JULIE STEENHUYSEN THE U.S. government has authorized Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, enabling millions more Americans to be vaccinated in the coming weeks and setting the vaccine up for additional approvals around the world. The J&J vaccine is the third authorized in the United States, following ones from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, both of which require two doses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the emergency use authorization of the J&J vaccine for adults aged 18 and older following Friday's unanimous endorsement by the agency's panel of outside experts. Shipments to vaccination sites are expected to begin Sunday or…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Vaccines for “immediate use” in S.A.

COVID-19

SOUTH Africa's health minister said yesterday that government advisers had grouped COVID-19 vaccines into three groups and those considered for "immediate use" were the Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Pfizer and Moderna shots. The country started rolling out the J&J vaccine in a research study targeting healthcare workers last week and hopes to receive Pfizer doses in the coming months. It has paused AstraZeneca vaccinations because of a small trial showing the British company's shot offered minimal protection against mild to moderate illness caused by the dominant local coronavirus variant. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the government had placed "huge orders…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

South Africa now looks to J&J vaccine

COVID-19

JOHNSON & Johnson will speed up deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to South Africa, a senior government official yesteray, after the country suspended plans to roll out AstraZeneca shots due to disappointing trial data. Health ministry Deputy Director-General Anban Pillay told public broadcaster SABC that the first J&J doses could arrive around the end of the week, whereas officials had previously said deliveries would start in the second quarter. J&J said it was in advanced discussions with South Africa about "potential additional collaborations" to combat COVID-19. "We hope to be able to share more details in the coming days," it…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

J&J vaccine adds to COVID-19 armoury

COVID-19

JULIE STEENHUYSEN JOHNSON & JOHNSON says its single-dose vaccine was 66% effective in preventing COVID-19 in a large global trial against multiple variants, giving health officials another weapon to tackle the pandemic. In the trial of nearly 44,000 volunteers, the level of protection against moderate and severe COVID-19 varied from 72% in the United States, to 66% in Latin America and just 57% in South Africa, from where a worrying variant has spread. The data showed that the vaccine's effect on the South Africa variant was diminished compared to the unaltered virus, but infectious disease and public health experts said…