Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine is more effective in the United States than in other parts of the world, the company said.
The vaccine was 72% effective in the U.S., but that percentage dropped in Latin America to 66% and in South Africa to 57%, 28 days post-vaccination, the company announced Friday. Overall, the vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, 28 days after vaccination, Johnson & Johnson said.
“Johnson & Johnson embarked on the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago, and has brought the full force of our capabilities, as well as tremendous public-private partnerships, to enable the development of a single-shot vaccine. Our goal all along has been to create a simple, effective solution for the largest number of people possible, and to have maximum impact to help end the pandemic,” said Alex Gorsky, board of directors chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson. “We’re proud to have reached this critical milestone and our commitment to address this global health crisis continues with urgency for everyone, everywhere.”
The data was collected from Johnson & Johnson’s phase three clinical trial, which included 43,783 participants developing 468 symptomatic coronavirus cases.
There was “a clear effect” the vaccine had in reducing the number of people who required medical intervention because not a single trial participant required such care, the company added.
“These topline results with a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate represent a promising moment. The potential to significantly reduce the burden of severe disease, by providing an effective and well-tolerated vaccine with just one immunization, is a critical component of the global public health response,” said Paul Stoffels, M.D., vice chairman of the executive committee and chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is unique in that it only requires people to receive one dosage, whereas the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots to be given about three to four weeks apart.
“A one-shot vaccine is considered by the World Health Organization to be the best option in pandemic settings, enhancing access, distribution and compliance,” Stoffels added.
Johnson & Johnson intends to file for an emergency use authorization in early February and expects to have vaccines ready to ship immediately. The company will be able to meet its 2021 supply commitments, it said.
