Two new studies suggest that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine booster shots can protect against severe symptoms from the omicron variant, according to Johnson & Johnson.
The company said the first study — done by the South African Medical Research Council — found that the J&J COVID-19 vaccine is 85% effective against hospitalization from COVID-19.
- The booster reduced risk after the omicron variant became dominant in the U.S., according to the company.
The second study — done by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — found that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine created a 41-fold increase in antibody responses four weeks after the booster.
- It also led to a five-fold increase in cells to fight omicron variant in two weeks.
Dr. Dan Barouch, who works at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said the findings show the importance of COVID-19 vaccines, according to CNN.
- “These data are important and these data are hopeful,” Barouch told CNN.
But the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may not be as effective against the omicron variant compared to other vaccines. Dr. Craig Spencer, an emergency room doctor in New York, said that those who had one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine experienced worse COVID-19 symptoms from omicron.
- Tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath and cough were common COVID-19 symptoms among the Johnson & Johnson group, as I wrote for the Deseret News.