Johnson & Johnson’s unique 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 released Wednesday.
The vaccine was on average 67% effective against moderate to severe critical 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 at 14 days post-administration and 85% at 28 days.
The results match the initial figures reported by the company in January: the vaccine offers a higher level of protection than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) minimum, but lower than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Additional data collected since the January announcement found no evidence of a decrease in protection over time, after tracking approximately 3,000 participants 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.
It is important to note that the vaccine also showed effectiveness against fast-spreading variants, including variant B.1.351, which was identified in 95% of COVID-19 cases in South Africa, and variant P2, which was identified in 69% of COVID. 19 cases in Brazil.
In South Africa, the vaccine was 64% effective against critical / moderate to severe disease and the efficacy was 82% against severe / critical illness from 28 days after vaccination.
Efficacy was also maintained in participants from Brazil, with 68% efficacy against critical / moderate to severe disease and 88% against severe / critical illness.
Protection was generally consistent between race and age groups, including adults over 60, and those with or without pre-existing conditions.
“This comprehensive evidence demonstrates that the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine provides protection and prevents hospitalization and death, including in countries where viral variants are highly prevalent,” said Paul Stoffels, scientific director. of Johnson & Johnson, in a statement.
“Regardless of race and ethnicity, age, geographic location and comorbidities, these results remain consistent. A single-shot vaccine that provides this level of protection represents an important tool in the global fight against COVID-19, as we strive to end this deadly pandemic. The safety and well-being of all people receiving a Johnson & Johnson product remains our top priority, and this data reaffirms our confidence in the protective benefits of our COVID-19 vaccine, ”Stoffels said.
Currently, vaccine use in the United States is halted due to concern about an extremely small number of severe blood clots in combination with low platelets in people who have received the vaccine.
An advisory group from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet for the second time on Friday to discuss the next steps for the vaccine.
In what could be a preview of the CDC meeting, the European drug regulator recommended on Tuesday that a warning be added to the vaccine about the possible link to blood clots, but noted that they are “very rare” and that the benefits still outweigh the risks.