The third Corona vaccine has arrived: But who is Johnson & Johnson suitable for?

From today, not only the Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech Corona vaccinations are available in Zug, but also the one-time vaccination from Johnson & Johnson. This is not an mRNA substance. Here are some answers to the main questions being asked.

What's special about the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine?
First of all, a single vaccination is enough, whereas two are necessary with Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech. Secondly, the J&J vaccine is not a vaccine using the new mRNA method, but a so-called ‘vector-based’ vaccine; this is also the case for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

How does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine work?
The vector vaccine is based on a human Adenovirus, which otherwise causes colds, but has been rendered harmless for vaccination purposes. The virus envelope has thereby been "loaded" with a piece of DNA from the Sars-CoV-2 virus. This piece is coded for the surface protein (spike-S protein) of the virus. This DNA is brought into the cells with the viruses, which then produces the protein that serves as an antigen for the immune system. The immune system reacts by forming antibodies and T cells.

Do vaccinated people who are given Johnson & Johnson vaccine receive the same certificate as those who received Moderna or Pfizer?
Yes, it is equivalent. The ‘Type of Vaccine’ is noted in the Covid certificate.

Is Johnson & Johnson's substance as effective against Delta as Moderna and Pfizer?
No, according to the vaccine efficiency studies, the " Vaccine Janssen" Covid-19 vaccine has an average effectiveness of only 66.9%. Interestingly, the substance seems to work better in the elderly – this is the other way around in the case of mRNA vaccines. The substance achieves an efficiency of 64.2% In the age group of 18–64 years, and 82.4% in the 65+ group. Almost 85% of severe and critical cases could be prevented with this vaccination.

Does Johnson & Johnson have other side effects
Very probably, in very rare cases. The most commonly documented side effects in the clinical trials were also headache, fatigue, pain at the injection site or nausea over one to two days. In contrast to the mRNA vaccines, however, "Vaccine Janssen", like the AstraZeneca substance, carries a low risk of sinus thrombosis – a clot in a brain vein, which is usually harmless. And there is also the risk of the Guillain-Barré nerve disease, which can lead to (usually temporary) paralysis. While the Guillain-Barré syndrome is more likely to affect people over 50, sinus thrombosis is more likely to occur in younger women.

Both risks also arise in the case of a corona infection. It’s at the moment unclear why the two vector vaccinations also carry the risk, but the mRNA vaccinations do not. One possibility would be that the immune response lasts longer with these more traditional vaccines.

What is the difference to the mRNA vaccines?
The DNA brought into the cell by the vector viruses is converted to mRNA in the cell nucleus and serves the cell's own protein factories (the ribosomes) as a template for the production of the spike protein. In the mRNA vaccines, mRNA is brought directly into the cell. After that, however, the effect is the same. Instead of a "hollowed-out" adenovirus, the active ingredient in the mRNA vaccines is enveloped by lipid particles (fat globules).

Does Johnson & Johnson also need a booster vaccination?
According to studies, a booster dose is particularly important for this vector vaccine, as the efficiency is lower than with the mRNA substances.

Photo 1: Only one injection is needed with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is intended to offer an alternative to allergy sufferers who cannot be vaccinated with the vaccines from Pfizer/Biontech or Moderna.
Photo 2: People who are vaccinated with the one-time vaccination from Johnson & Johnson will also receive a Covid certificate           
Photo 3: The question of whether a booster vaccination is needed is still controversial, even with vector vaccines.
Photo 4: Queue in front of Basel Vaccination Center at the Congress Center. Demand for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could also be high.                           Yuri Junkov
 

How much J&J vaccine has the federal government ordered?
The federal government has signed a contract for the supply of 150,000 vaccine doses, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG).

For whom is J&J suitable?
The J&J product is not intended for the broad mass of the population, but for people who respond better to this vector substance than to the vaccines developed with the new mRNA method. These could be allergy sufferers, for example. The demand could still be high, however, because many people will consider the fact that only one vaccination is necessary to be an advantage. Side effects often occur after the second dose with Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech mRNA vaccines. Federal Councillor Alain Berset said that this vaccine would be available for those people who could not or did not want to be vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine.

For which allergies is Johnson & Johnson recommended?
According to the FOPH, J&J is primarily intended for people who could not protect themselves with an mRNA vaccine for medical reasons, for example because they are allergic to one of the ingredients. Allergies that make it impossible to vaccinate with Pfizer or Moderna preparations are very rare, however, but the uncertainty in people with allergies is nevertheless great.

Lukas Jörg, hospital specialist at the Polyclinic for Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Inselspital Bern, says: "We have had numerous inquiries about the Covid-19 vaccination and allergies from January 2021 onwards. In addition to our regular daily work, we also deal with 40 to 60 requests and assignments per day regarding Covid-19 vaccination, allergies or side effects."

In most cases, vaccination is possible without any problems, although specialists recommend taking an antihistamine before vaccination in some cases. People who are allergic to food, pollen, dust mites, animals, insecticides or latex can be vaccinated normally, even with mRNA vaccines.

What are the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for doctors' practices and pharmacies?
Storage is easier than with mRNA preparations, which have to be transported and stored at icy temperatures (minus 70 °C). Johnson & Johnson does not require special cooling and transport containers, and can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures between 2 and 8 °C. The weak point of the vector vaccines, on the other hand, is that the immune system can react to the vector virus, and thereby prevent the vaccine from being brought into the cells at all.

Which claims related to vector vaccines are not accurate?
Although viral DNA is brought into the cells, no viruses are produced by the vaccinations. Only a special viral protein is produced, and is then expelled by the cells. The vector viruses also cannot multiply.