
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine was far less effective at keeping people out of hospital than the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, according to a peer reviewed <a href="http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0868?utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_term=030222" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> published in <em>JAMA Network Open </em>Wednesday, bolstering the case for those vaccinated with a J&amp;J shot to receive a second booster dose with an mRNA vaccine like Moderna and Pfizer.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>The risk of being hospitalized with severe Covid-19 after vaccination was approximately five times higher in people who had received the J&amp;J vaccine compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, according to a study of around 1.4 million people ages 55 and over in France divided equally by vaccine type.</p>



<p>Pfizer’s shot was 92% effective at preventing hospitalization with severe Covid, compared to 59% for the J&amp;J vaccine, the researchers found, “consistent with previous estimates” from smaller studies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>The researchers said they think the study is the largest to evaluate the effectiveness of the J&amp;J vaccine in the general population to date and “included almost the entire population (of France) aged 55 years or older” who received the shot.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While every effort was taken to ensure no other factor could explain the difference—members of the two vaccine groups were matched for factors including age, sex, vaccination day and area of residence—the researchers said they “cannot completely exclude” another explanation, though they said using a vaccinated group made this less likely than if the shot’s cohort was compared to a group of unvaccinated people.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The findings bolster advice recommending J&amp;J recipients have a second booster dose using an mRNA vaccine—the technology used in Moderna and Pfizer shots—the researchers said, which is already recommended in France and the U.S.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>In clinical trials, a single J&amp;J shot was shown to be around 85% effective against severe Covid-19. In later studies in the general population, this figure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2110362" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dropped</a>&nbsp;to around 68%. Compared to mRNA vaccines, the predominant shot used in the U.S. which were found to be around 90% effective in general population studies, J&amp;J is effectively the worst performing vaccine in the country and the CDC recommends everyone get a booster shot of either Pfizer or Moderna shots. Though studies show the J&amp;J vaccine is less effective than mRNA shots at preventing severe Covid and hospitalization, data overwhelmingly shows it is still more dangerous to be unvaccinated.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT WE DON’T KNOW</h2>



<p>Are people vaccinated with J&amp;J fully protected? Guidance on vaccinations has shifted throughout the pandemic, often leaving the recipients of the least-used U.S. vaccine in&nbsp;<a href="https://khn.org/news/article/johnson-and-johnson-covid-vaccines-booster-questions/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsmi=205403798&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9PBLJKj3X0aqqws0r_bkbGd64iB496FBO5Fnst31BSFh9k4EyG6F414NvEh7FCOfI5cdYSqAyYDT2OWz-r7Cd0UWzbr6lAGQt2bnORICY9fnTAm0M&amp;utm_content=205403798&amp;utm_source=hs_email" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flux</a>&nbsp;as communications focused on more widely used Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The CDC counts people who have completed the primary course of vaccination—one dose of J&amp;J or two of Moderna and Pfizer—as “fully vaccinated.” Though the organization acknowledges the need for a single booster dose as protection wanes over time and recommends everybody get this, it has not changed the definition of “fully vaccinated” and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2022/01/21/cdc-not-changing-fully-vaccinated-definition-to-include-booster---but-people-wont-be-up-to-date-on-shots-without-one/?sh=4ddd011c2f78">said</a>&nbsp;people will not be considered “up to date” without a booster. Though people who have had the J&amp;J shot and another booster will be considered fully vaccinated and up to date, data still shows mRNA vaccines consistently offering higher levels of protection, making it unclear whether J&amp;J recipients will need a third shot to “catch up” despite official guidelines. Use of the vaccine has dropped over the course of the pandemic in favor of mRNA shots, adding to the confusion. Official guidelines do not address the matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p>17 million. That’s how many people have received the J&amp;J vaccine in the U.S., according to CDC data. In comparison, more than 123 million have received two doses of Pfizer’s shot and more than 75 million two doses of Moderna’s.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharysmith/2022/02/08/johnson--johnson-reportedly-pauses-covid-vaccine-production-despite-sharp-need-in-developing-countries/?sh=21ab1b9f1b7c">Johnson &amp; Johnson Reportedly Pauses Covid Vaccine Production Despite Sharp Need In Developing Countries</a> (Forbes)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Robert Hart, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Zimbabwe Prepares For Next Covid-19 Wave As Countries Impose Travel Bans

Risk Of Covid Hospitalization 5 Times Higher With Johnson & Johnson Shot Than Pfizer


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">TOPLINE</h2>



<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson temporarily halted production of its Covid-19 vaccine late last year, the <em>New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/business/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, despite the fact that developing countries have already been left waiting for tens of millions of vaccines ordered from the pharmaceutical giant.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="key-facts">KEY FACTS</h2>



<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson’s plant in Leiden, the Netherlands, is expected to resume producing Covid vaccines after a pause of a few months, during which it has shifted to producing a possibly more profitable vaccine for a different virus, the&nbsp;<em>New York Times</em>&nbsp;reported, citing unnamed sources.</p>



<p>It remains unclear whether vaccine stockpiles will be sufficient to insulate global healthcare systems from the production pause.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h2>



<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson is one of the largest Covid vaccine suppliers to the African Union and to COVAX, a program aimed at improving global access to vaccines. For some low- and middle-income countries, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s vaccine is the only option,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jnj.com/penny-heaton-m-d-global-therapeutic-area-head-vaccines-janssen-research-development-llc-remarks-as-prepared-for-the-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-meeting-of-the-advisory-committee-on-immunization-practices-acip" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;Johnson &amp; Johnson executive Dr. Penny Heaton. The company suffered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-03/j-j-delay-is-latest-setback-to-south-africa-vaccination-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">delays</a>&nbsp;in sending tens of millions of doses to South Africa in mid-2021, contributing to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/16/business/johnson-johnson-vaccine-africa-exported-europe.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">devastating outbreaks</a>&nbsp;as the delta variant surged. Africa has some of the lowest vaccination rates in the world, with Eritrea, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad all&nbsp;<a href="https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data/tools/vaccine-administration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reporting</a>&nbsp;less than 1% vaccination. Africa’s lagging vaccination rates are caused both by low supply and by the inadequacy of local medical infrastructure, World Health Organization vaccines director Kate O’Brien&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/01/14/1072188527/for-the-36-countries-with-the-lowest-vaccination-rates-supply-isnt-the-only-issu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;NPR.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="big-number">BIG NUMBER</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/14/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine#johnson-vaccine-boosters-fda" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">17 million.</a>&nbsp;That’s how many doses of Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine the Biden Administration donated to the African Union in October.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h2>



<p>“This is not the time to be switching production lines of anything, when the lives of people across the developing world hang in the balance,” African Union vaccine-delivery program co-head Dr. Ayoade Alakija&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/business/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<em>New York Times</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="further-reading">FURTHER READING</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/business/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“J.&amp;J. Pauses Production of Its Covid Vaccine Despite Persistent Need”</a> (New York Times)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Zachary Snowdon Smith, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


Pop-up Vaccination Bus as South Africa Weathers Third Covid Wave

Johnson & Johnson Reportedly Pauses Covid Vaccine Production Despite Sharp Need In Developing Countries


<p><strong>TOPLINE</strong>: The U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration has extended the shelf life of the Johnson &amp; Johnson single-dose Covid-19 vaccine from four-and-a-half months to six months, the drugmaker announced on Thursday, a decision that comes at a time when several health officials expressed concerns about vaccine doses expiring and going to waste.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<p>According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-statement-on-u-s-fda-approval-of-shelf-life-extension-for-companys-covid-19-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a>&nbsp;by Johnson &amp; Johnson, the FDA’s decision was based on data from ongoing studies that showed the vaccine remains stable when refrigerated at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit.</p>



<p>In a letter sent to the company, the FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3zRuTMB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">noted</a>&nbsp;that the extension will apply to batches that might have expired prior to the issuance of the order as long as they were stored at the requisite temperature.</p>



<p>The company will update the expiry dates of its batches on its&nbsp;<a href="https://vaxcheck.jnj/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, which vaccine providers can use as a reference.</p>



<p>The move will provide health workers six additional weeks to administer millions of doses of the single-shot vaccine.</p>



<p>The FDA had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-coronavirus-vaccine-science-coronavirus-pandemic-business-6d04574617b35c56e7ca2c711cc5585f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously extended</a>&nbsp;the J&amp;J vaccine’s shelf life from three months to four-and-half months in June.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



<p>49.3%. That’s the total percentage of people in the U.S. who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19,&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to</a>&nbsp;the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Among U.S. adults, 69.3% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



<p>Unlike the two mRNA Covid-19 vaccines—made by Moderna and Pfizer—J&amp;J’s vaccine is administered as a single shot and can be stored in normal refrigeration temperatures. This means that the vaccine can be easily transported and administered in rural and isolated parts of the country where healthcare infrastructure may be limited.&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">According to</a>&nbsp;the CDC, more than 13 million people in the U.S. have received the one-shot vaccine. In comparison, more than 87 million people have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 63 million have received two jabs of the Moderna vaccine.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-8126286b2c8bc65970117a08c77af075" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US extends expiration dates on J&amp;J COVID vaccine to 6 months</a>&nbsp;(Associated Press)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-agrees-extend-jj-covid-19-vaccines-shelf-life-6-months-2021-07-28/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J says U.S. FDA agrees to extend shelf life of its COVID-19 vaccine</a>&nbsp;(Reuters)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/johnson-vaccine-shelf-life.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">J&amp;J vaccine shelf life extended to six months by F.D.A.</a> (New York Times)</p>



<p><strong><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></strong></p>


A health worker holds a vial of Janssen vaccine (American

FDA Extends Shelf Life Of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine To Six Months


<p id="h-topline"><strong>TOPLINE</strong> Johnson &amp; Johnson’s single-dose Covid-19 vaccine has demonstrated 66% effectiveness in preventing moderate and severe disease, the company said in a <a href="https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-announces-single-shot-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-met-primary-endpoints-in-interim-analysis-of-its-phase-3-ensemble-trial" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">press release</a> on Friday, noting that the overall number was dragged down by the 57% efficacy rate in South Africa which is seeing the spread of the more contagious B.1.351 variant.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h4>



<p>The vaccine is 85% effective against severe disease and the drugmaker reported that there were no cases with hospitalizations or deaths 28 days after vaccination, suggesting that the vaccine’s effectiveness rises over time.</p>



<p>Unlike vaccines that have currently been approved for use, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s shot has been trialed as a single dose shot which could significantly simplify the logistics around its rollout.</p>



<p>The large-scale phase three trial data is based on results from 43,783 participants across eight countries of whom 463 people got symptomatic cases of Covid-19.</p>



<p>Unlike vaccines that have currently been approved for use, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s shot has been trialed as a single dose shot which could significantly simplify the logistics around its rollout.</p>



<p>According to both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/health/johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-results/index.html?utm_content=2021-01-29T13%3A11%3A48&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_term=link&amp;utm_source=twCNNi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNN</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-and-johnson-variants.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>New York Times</em></a>, Johnson &amp; Johnson is planning to apply for emergency use authorization of the vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as soon as next week, which then may be granted later in February.</p>



<p>Once approved, the drugmaker will launch the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis for emergency pandemic use.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-suprising-fact">SUPRISING FACT</h4>



<p>Unlike the presently approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines which use a new mRNA technology, Johnson &amp; Johnson’s shot relies on a more established technique of using an adenovirus — a weakened common cold virus — to carry the genetic instructions into the body to prompt an immune response.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h4>



<p>100 million. That’s the number of vaccine doses that Johnson &amp; Johnson has pledged to deliver to the federal government by June. Since this vaccine is administered as a single dose, it could be used to immunize 100 million people.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



<p>Emergency approval of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine will be key to the Biden administration’s plans to swiftly ramp up inoculations against the coronavirus in the U.S. The trial results also highlight the need for a speedy rollout as newer, more contagious strains of the virus emerge in the U.K., Brazil, and South Africa. As with Johnson and Johnson, other vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax have also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/01/28/novavax-covid-vaccine-is-highly-effective-against-uk-variant-but-struggled-in-south-africa-data-shows/?sh=390bc474d327">reported</a>&nbsp;a reduction in effectiveness against the South African variant. Moderna has also started&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2021/01/25/moderna-launches-trial-for-covid-19-vaccine-booster-to-tackle-south-african-strain/?sh=307cf56d737b">trialing</a>&nbsp;a booster shot to improve people’s immunity against the more contagious strain.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h4>



<p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/health/covid-vaccine-johnson-and-johnson-variants.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Johnson &amp; Johnson’s Vaccine Offers Strong Protection but Fuels Concern About Variants</a>&nbsp;(New York Times)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/01/28/novavax-covid-vaccine-is-highly-effective-against-uk-variant-but-struggled-in-south-africa-data-shows/?sh=2ca5a86dd327">Novavax Covid Vaccine Is Highly Effective Against U.K. Variant But Struggled In South Africa, Data Shows</a> (Forbes)</p>



<p><em>By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff</em></p>


In this photo illustration a close up of a hand holding a

J&J’s Covid-19 Vaccine Is 66% Effective Against Disease And Prevents Hospitalizations, Deaths


<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson has become the latest Covid-19 vaccine frontrunner to put its trials on hold due to safety concerns after a participant fell ill, the company <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.jnj.com/our-company/johnson-johnson-temporarily-pauses-all-dosing-in-our-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-clinical-trials" target="_blank">said</a> in a statement Monday, following a<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/09/08/astrazeneca-puts-phase-3-vaccine-trial-on-hold-shares-drop-6/#1df5907743fd"> similar move</a> by AstraZeneca in September.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY FACTS</h4>



<p>The U.S. company said it was not immediately clear what had caused the adverse reaction in the participant, whether it was linked to the vaccine or even if the participant had received the vaccine, as opposed to a placebo.</p>



<p>An independent data safety monitoring board, in addition to the company’s own physicians, is monitoring the participant’s illness, the company said, adding that it is important to “have all the facts” and respect the participant’s privacy before sharing further information.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>Though serious adverse events are not uncommon in clinical trials, the pause to Johnson &amp; Johnson’s research might add to existing concerns over the safety of Covid-19 vaccines being at a much faster pace than is usual.</p>



<p>“Adverse events – illnesses, accidents, etc. &#8211; even those that are serious, are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies,” the company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jnj.com/our-company/johnson-johnson-temporarily-pauses-all-dosing-in-our-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-clinical-trials" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>&nbsp;in a statement.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">KEY BACKGROUND</h4>



<p>Johnson &amp; Johnson is a frontrunner in the race to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, launching a large, 60,000-person phase 3 trial for its single dose vaccine last month. Without further information from the company, it’s impossible to tell which study this participant might be linked to or whether they had even received the vaccine.Adverse events are not uncommon in clinical trials— another fairly advanced Covid-19 vaccine trial by AstraZeneca was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/09/08/astrazeneca-puts-phase-3-vaccine-trial-on-hold-shares-drop-6/#4e3dfc443fd2">put on hold</a>&nbsp;in early September. But amid the rush to develop a vaccine, the World Health Organization has warned against countries taking a nationalistic approach, and instead is pushing for a “collective” effort. Meanwhile, as President Donald Trump pushes for a vaccine before the November 3 election,there is already evidence that his approach has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/10/12/only-50-of-americans-are-willing-to-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-poll-shows/#4176923f6409">eroded public trust&nbsp;</a>in its safety, even if FDA-approved.&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h4>



<p>Hassan Vally, an associate professor in epidemiology at La Trobe University in Melbourne,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-13/j-j-confirms-covid-19-vaccine-trial-paused-on-safety-event" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a>&nbsp;<em>Bloomberg</em>&nbsp;that these kinds of pauses are going to be more commonplace as more are vaccinated. “We’re going to have to get used to hearing these sorts of reports of pauses,” he said. “As you vaccinate more people in these trials the chances are that there will be some illnesses in participants. The only difference here is that in the world that we live in right now, the progress of these trials are in the public eye, and so we are riding every bump.”</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">BIG NUMBER</h4>



<p>$1 billion. That’s how much Johnson &amp; Johnson received from the federal government as a part of<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2020/09/30/operation-warp-speed-has-over-6-billion-in-secret-covid-19-vaccine-contracts-evading-scrutiny/#46cdd8373c22">&nbsp;Operation Warp Speed</a>.</p>



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">WHAT TO WATCH FOR</h5>



<p>Further updates from Johnson &amp; Johnson as they evaluate the trial and its participants to determine the cause of the adverse event.</p>



<p><em>By Robert Hart, Forbes Staff</em></p>


Tag: Johnson & Johnson

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

Risk Of Covid Hospitalization 5 Times Higher With Johnson & Johnson Shot Than Pfizer

Johnson & Johnson Reportedly Pauses Covid Vaccine Production Despite Sharp Need In Developing Countries

FDA Extends Shelf Life Of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine To Six Months

J&J’s Covid-19 Vaccine Is 66% Effective Against Disease And Prevents Hospitalizations, Deaths

Johnson & Johnson Halt All Covid-19 Vaccine Trials Over ‘Unexplained Illness’