On Friday, a federal panel has decided that the J&J vaccine shot that was one and done shot should now be a two-dose vaccine and has now received the initial authorization.
According to USA TODAY, the Vaccines and Related Biological Advisory Committee had felt that Americans who already got the single-dose vaccine for J&J would be better protected with an additional vaccine.
In late February, J&J received authorization for their vaccine. Later on October 5, J&J asked for the approval of their booster shot for people ages 18 and up and submitted data that states that the second dose of the vaccine improves protection.
FDA issues emergency use authorization for Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Photo: REUTERS)
J&J Vaccine
There are 15 million Americans who have already received the initial dose of the J&J vaccine. The vote was unanimous, 19-0, and supported J&J as a booster to be taken at least two months after the first shot.
Dr. James Hildreth, the president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, has told in an interview that the J&J vaccine was always going to be a two-dose instead of a one-dose shot.
The data given to the panel by the J&J and real-world experience have shown that one dose of the vaccine offers less protection against COVID-19 than other vaccines administered by two-dose like Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.
The study suggests that the J&J vaccine provides protection over time. According to USA TODAY, the committee has been feeling the urgency to make the extra dose of vaccine available to the people who are already vaccinated with it.
Read Also: Approximately 90,000 COVID-19 Deaths Among Adults Likely Would Have Been Prevented With Vaccination
March 6, 2021, file photo shows vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy in Denver. Johnson & Johnson has asked U.S. regulators to allow booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward shoring up protection in more vaccinated Americans. (Photo: David Zalubowski/ Associated Press file)
Needed to be Verified
The FDA scientist has published an analysis about the data that was given to them and the application for the booster and questioned the strength of the data.
According to CNBC, the FDA said that while people may benefit from the second dose, the information provided was lacking, and the company hasn’t verified all of it. However, it acknowledges that the single J&J dose was less effective than other vaccines in clinical trials and real-world studies.
The CDC still recommends that people who already got primary shots have the same vaccine in receiving extra doses.
The committee’s decision for the Moderna and J&J booster shots is still needed to be verified by another different advisory panel and top federal officials. It is expected to meet on October 21-22 to discuss the extra shots for the vaccine recipients of J&J and Moderna.
Read Related Article: Boosters For Moderna, J&J COVID-19 Vaccines Are Now Under FDA Advisory Committee Discussion
