The Johnson & Johnson single-injection coronavirus vaccine protected against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection and prevented hospitalization and death in all participants 28 days after vaccination, according to new results from clinical trials published Wednesday.
The vaccine was an average of 67% effective against moderate to severe COVID-19 at least 14 days after administration and 66% effective at 28 days after vaccination, according to data published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The vaccine was approximately 77% effective against severe / critical COVID-19 14 days after administration and 85% after 28 days.
The results match initial numbers reported by the company in January – the vaccine offers a level of protection above the minimum Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but lower than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Additional data collected from the January announcement found no evidence of a decline in protection over time, after about 3,000 participants followed for 11 weeks and 1,000 participants for 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.
Importantly, the vaccine also showed efficacy against rapidly spreading variants, including variant B.1.351, which was identified in 95 percent of COVID-19 cases in South Africa, and variant P2, which was identified in 69 percent. percent of COVID- 19 cases in Brazil.
In South Africa, the vaccine was 64% effective against moderate to severe / critical illness, and the efficacy was 82% against severe / critical illness starting 28 days after vaccination.
Efficacy was also maintained in participants in Brazil, with 68% efficacy against moderate to severe / critical disease and 88% against severe / critical disease.
Protection was generally consistent between races and age groups, including adults over 60 years of age and those with or without pre-existing conditions.
“This comprehensive evidence demonstrates that the Johnson & Johnson single-injection COVID-19 vaccine provides protection and prevents hospitalization and death, including in countries where viral variants are widespread,” said Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientific officer. -a declaration.
“Regardless of race and ethnicity, age, geographical location and comorbidities, these results remain consistent. A single vaccine that provides this level of protection is an important tool in the global fight against COVID-19, as we strive to help eliminate this deadly pandemic. The safety and well-being of every person receiving a Johnson & Johnson product remains our top priority, and these data reaffirm our confidence in the protective benefits of our COVID-19 vaccine, ”said Stoffels.
Vaccine use in the US is currently discontinued due to concerns about an extremely small number of severe blood clots in combination with low platelets in people who have received the vaccine.
An advisory group for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet for the second time on Friday to discuss next steps for the vaccine.
In what could be a preview of the CDC meeting, the European Medicines Regulatory Authority recommended on Tuesday that a vaccine be added on the possible link to blood clots, but noted that they are “very rare” and the benefits they still outweigh the risks.