His opinion on the approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the European Union announces today, Thursday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA). But what do we need to know about this vaccine?
The vaccine has many advantages in terms of supply chain operation. It is a single dose, unlike the Pfizer / BionTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines, which are given in two weekly doses..
Also, can be stored for 3 months at room temperature, which facilitates its disposal.
Effectiveness
Its effectiveness has been tested in clinical trials involving 40,000 people aged 18 and over in many countries, including the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa.
Half of the participants received the vaccine, the other half received a placebo and then comparisons were made between the two groups.
The vaccine has been shown to be 85% effective in preventing serious illness from Covid-19, a serious element because it prevents hospitalization and death, as broadcast by the French Agency and relayed by the Athens News Agency. None of the vaccinated subjects died from Covid-19 during the trials, compared with 7 deaths in the placebo group.
The vaccine has been shown to be 66% effective in preventing mild to severe disease. A percentage that sums up the different realities between countries: 72% in the US, 64% in South Africa, where variant B.1.351 was predominant during the clinical trial period, according to data analyzed by the US Drug Administration.
And in relation to the other vaccines? The result of 66% in efficiency can not be compared with 95% of Pfizer et Moderna, experts warn. In fact, the clinical trials of Pfizer et Moderna took place at a time when variants, and especially the South African variant, were not widespread.
What are the side effects?
The most common side effects seen during the clinical trials were injection site pain, headache, exhaustion and muscle aches.
At least one rash has been reported in South Africa, according to the company Johnson & Johnson.
Such reactions, although very rare, have been induced after administration of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
Which technology?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a viral vector vaccine.
It uses an attenuated adenovirus, modified to accept genetic instructions from the part of the virus responsible for Covid-19. Once introduced into the cells, a protein characteristic of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is produced, which trains the immune system to recognize it.
Where has it been approved outside the EU?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been licensed for emergency use in the United States since the end of February. It was also approved in Canada in early March.
Before these two countries, South Africa has already started using it.
Additional research
The pharmaceutical company announced that it is studying the effectiveness of giving two doses, instead of one, in providing immune protection.
Some scientists have expressed doubts about the effect of the extra dose because of the technique used to develop the vaccine: the immune system may recognize the weakened “vehicle” virus that is injected a second time and neutralize it before it can work.
Johnson & Johnson also announced the upcoming launch of testing on teens, then children, and pregnant women.
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