CBC News: The National shows that Health Canada has approved a 4th COVID-19 vaccine: the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The prime minister also announced that Canada will get 3.5 million more Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines by the end of May.
It is interesting how the Johnson & Johnson vaccine works. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is what’s called a viral vector vaccine.
To create this vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson team took a harmless adenovirus (the viral vector) and replaced a small piece of its genetic instructions with coronavirus genes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
After this modified adenovirus is injected into someone’s arm, it enters the person’s cells. The cells then read the genetic instructions needed to make the spike protein and the vaccinated cells make and present the spike protein on their own surface. The person’s immune system then notices these foreign proteins and makes antibodies against them that will protect the person if they are ever exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in the future.
The adenovirus vector vaccine is "safe" because the adenovirus can’t replicate in human cells or cause disease. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can’t cause COVID-19 without the rest of the coronavirus.
Johnson & Johnson used a similar method to make its Ebola vaccine. The AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is also an adenovirus viral vector vaccine.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceutical, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is ranked No. 37 on the 2018 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. Johnson & Johnson is one of the world's most valuable companies, and is 1 of only 2 USA-based companies that has a prime credit rating of AAA. That is higher than that of the United States government.
Johnson & Johnson is headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the consumer division being located in Skillman, New Jersey. The corporation includes some 250 subsidiary companies with operations in 60 countries and products sold in over 175 countries. Johnson & Johnson had worldwide sales of $70.1 billion during calendar year 2015. Johnson & Johnson's brands include numerous household names of medications and first aid supplies. Among its well-known consumer products are the Band-Aid Brand line of bandages, Tylenol medications, Johnson's Baby products, Neutrogena skin and beauty products, Clean & Clear facial wash and Acuvue contact lenses. Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical arm is Janssen Pharmaceutica.
You have a great blog here! would you like to make some invite posts on my blog?
ReplyDeleteInformation
Website
Thanks for liking the blog.
DeleteThe Johnson & Johnson vaccine is certainly highly effective. 85% effective in preventing severe COVID-19 that does not require hospitalization. 72% effective in the USA. The overall efficacy is 66% when including all countries.
Johnson and Johnson vaccine: FDA finds the single-shot jab is safe. USA regulators have found the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is fortunately safe and effective.
As with all COVID-19 vaccines, health workers at high risk of exposure and older people should certainly be prioritized for vaccination.
SSM Health's Vice President of Pharmacy, Mo Kharbat, says even people who have had the virus can benefit from getting the vaccine, but he suggests that people wait to get it until they have completely recovered.