Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine has an efficacy rate lower than the likes of Pfizer and Moderna. Why is this? It is possible that due to Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine, it lowers the effectiveness of the said vaccine?
Unlike Pfizer and Moderna, Johnson & Johnson only required one vaccination shot, whereas the former required two shots over a certain period of time. However, the one-shot vaccine is practical and more ideal in the pandemic setting. This way, the need for people to come into vaccination centers to receive a shot will be cut in half, lowering the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, this eases the burden on the healthcare system and its workers, who are constantly overwhelmed by the sheer number of people they need to administer the vaccine to. Johnson & Johnson has an 85% efficacy rate in preventing severe disease. The vaccine efficacy has shown to be consistent across all age groups. See my posting on “What determines a vaccine’s effectiveness?” at https://boywriter.com/?p=507 for the meaning of the efficacy.
In summary, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may have a lower efficacy rate than Pfizer or Moderna, it is also more convenient and less time-consuming on the backs of the healthcare system. But of course, there are more concerning things than efficacy rate of a vaccine such as “What is the side effect of the vaccine?” At this point, CDC and FDA are reviewing and analyzing cases of serious side effects of J & J. I recommend you to follow their decisions annouced by CDC. See their “Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine” here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0413-JJ-vaccine.html
Update: FDA and CDC Lift Recommended Pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine Use Following Thorough Safety Review at https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/fda-cdc-lift-vaccine-use.html
For more information:
Dacey, Kim. “What You Need to Know about Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine.” WBAL, WBAL, 12 Feb. 2021, www.wbaltv.com/article/understanding-progress-of-johnson-and-johnson-covid-19-vaccine/35484880#.
“Johnson & Johnson.” Content Lab U.S., www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-announces-single-shot-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-met-primary-endpoints-in-interim-analysis-of-its-phase-3-ensemble-trial.