A big boost of confidence for the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine. The company now says it's 94% effective with a booster shot given after two months.
This information comes from the company's vaccine effectiveness study.
Dr. Jim Harris with the South Bend Clinic Center for Research says there are 30,000 patients involved, and more than a hundred of them are from Michiana. He says this is good news for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and booster shots moving forward.
"This is very good news that we've heard this week," said Dr. Harris. "It's very exciting because it shows that the J&J vaccine is just as effective as the other ones."
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has gotten "lost in the shuffle," according to Dr. Jim Harris. He says this data is good news for the single-dose shot.
"It's 100% protection at keeping people out of the hospital or dying, it's 94% effective in preventing infections."
The trials started at the beginning of the year. He says half of the patients received a second dose -- two months after the first.
Dr. Harris says getting the extra shot increased the person's antibody levels against the virus.
"Nobody really knew then or even knows now what the ideal interval is between shots. What this showed is waiting two months increased the antibody levels about 4-5 times, but waiting six months increased the levels by 9-12 times. So it looks like the longer you wait, the better the boost you get from the vaccine."
While a booster isn't approved yet, Dr. Harris thinks we'll see a resurgence in the company's vaccine after this recent data.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine doesn't require cold storage and it could be more effective the longer you wait for a booster. But he says that data has yet to come.
"I would suggest with the booster -- it doesn't really hurt to wait," said Dr. Harris. With the booster, it may be a better boost if you wait a few more months rather than rushing out to get it right away."
Johnson & Johnson has provided this data to the FDA and CDC in consideration for a booster shot.
For anyone that hasn't gotten the vaccine, Dr. Harris says now is the time to do so, and even a single dose of Johnson & Johnson is about 80% effective.