The Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID vaccine is far less effective on the Delta variant as compared to the original strains of SARS CoV-2 Found a recent study.
The study conducted by researchers at New York University have found that Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Vaccine is five times less effective against the Delta variant.
Researchers point to the possibility of those inoculated with Janssen needing a second booster dose to make up for the loss of efficacy.
About the Study
The study examined the neutralising titer of the vaccine against the Beta, Delta, Delta plus and Lambda variants of COVID-19.
“(Janssen) showed a more pronounced decrease in neutralizing titer against the variants, raising the potential for decreased protection."Researchers of the study quotes by Live Mint
Janssen has an overall efficacy of 66.3 percent against the original strain of COVID.
When it comes to the dominant variants of concern, now, the vaccine's efficacy is said to have gone down by nearly 5 fold, according to this study.
The study is still in the preprint stage which means it is yet to be peer reviewed or published in any journal.
These results are also inconsistent with Johnson & Johnson's statement released earlier this month that said the vaccine is effective against the delta variant.
It must also be noted that these results may vary when it comes to real world observations.
What This Means for Those Who Were Vaccinated With Janssen
Over 13 Million people in the US alone have been inoculated with the Janssen vaccine.
This could mean that all these people may require a second booster dose of the vaccine, especially in the face of the Delta variant surging in the country.
Previous studies, including a major one conducted by UK's health body, Public Health England (PHE), have also observed that the efficacy of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines, too, were considerably lower against the Delta variant after just one dose.
Considering all COVID vaccines show a slight decline in effectiveness against the Delta variant, added to the fact that vaccines protection starts to ebb after around 6 months, even 2 dose vaccines like Pfizer are considering introducing a 3rd booster dose to reinforce the vaccine's protection.
“The message that we wanted to give was not that people shouldn’t get the J.&J. vaccine, but we hope that in the future, it will be boosted with either another dose of J.&J. or a boost with Pfizer or Moderna.”Nathaniel Landau, Virologist at N.Y.U.’s Grossman School of Medicine, as quoted by the New York Times
(Written with inputs from the New York Time and Live Mint.)
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