J&J Shot is Effective Against Delta, in South African Trial

According to a trial involving nearly 480,000 health workers in South Africa, Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is effective against the delta strain of Covid-19.

Notably, the study provides the first large-scale evidence that Johnson & Johnson vaccine prevents severe disease among those infected with the delta strain. The study is known as Sisonke. Glenda Gray, trial co-lead, announced that it’s more effective against delta than with the earlier beta strain.

She announced that the single-dose shot of J&J was 71% effective against hospitalization. Meanwhile, it was 96% effective against death. Moreover, it demonstrated the durability of eight months.

Glenda Gray, the South African Medical Research Council’s president, announced that these results show no need for a booster.

As we know, Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a key element to South Africa’s vaccination plan. However, in April, the country temporarily halted its use. It came after America decided to suspend the shot because of its link to rare blood clots.

J&J agreed to administer 400 million vaccines to the African Union in 2022

One U.S. study released last month revealed that the Johnson & Johnson shot produced relatively low antibodies against delta. J&J announced that analysis had examined only one aspect of protection and didn’t consider long-lasting responses among immune cells stimulated by the vaccine. J&J’s researchers have reported their own data showed that the vaccine neutralizes the variant and that additional doses weren’t needed.

The company agreed to administer 400 million vaccines to the African Union through the end of 2022. A single shot Covid-19 vaccine is helpful for Africa. Remarkably, vaccine distribution to over 1 billion widely dispersed people is likely to present a challenge.

In the study, health workers at 120 sites in urban and rural areas from February 17 to May 17 became vaccinated. Remarkably, the analysis of a third data set will become published in the coming days.