An infectologist on the long-awaited Johnson & Johnson vaccine: it even has several advantages



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According to the professor, the composition of this vaccine is similar to that of AstraZeneca.

“The composition of this vaccine is very similar to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a chimpanzee adenovirus vector and uses Johnson & Johnson’s human adenovirus as a vector to provide information to cells,” the statement said Tuesday.Delphi morning“Said A. Ambrozaitis.

He explained how the vaccine works.

“Adenovirus is decontaminated, it does not cause disease; it incorporates the genetic material of the coronavirus, and that virus, when introduced with the vaccine, directs the muscle cells of the body to produce a superficial needle protein that is found on the surface of the coronavirus “. . In this way, the immune system responds to a foreign body, that adenovirus, and begins to produce protective antibodies that protect the person from being infected when infected with a real coronavirus, “said the infectologist.

He highlighted the benefits of the vaccine.

According to A. Ambrozaitis, one dose of the vaccine is sufficient to vaccinate with Johnson & Johnson, and immunity develops after 28 days.

“This shows that the vaccine elicits a stronger and more pronounced immune response and that a single dose is sufficient. This is their advantage, ”noted the doctor.

He also highlighted another advantage of this vaccine: simpler logistics. Like the AstraZeneca vaccine, it can be stored in a standard medical refrigerator without the need for a special cold chain, such as the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccines.

“This vaccine is especially suitable to vaccinate the rural population, physically disabled or less mobile people, because it is often logistically difficult to call, find or go to a person for the second dose of the vaccine, it has certain advantages”, A. Ambrozaitis he pointed.

Arvydas Ambrozaitis

Arvydas Ambrozaitis

© DELFI / Josvydas Elinskas

Explained about the effectiveness of the vaccine.

The professor also said that the overall effectiveness of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in protecting against disease is 66% and protection against severe forms or death is 85%.

“All the safety parameters are good enough and comply with all the requirements of the European Medicines Agency,” said the infectologist.

When asked if such figures are not of concern because of the alleged low efficacy, A. Ambrozaitis answered negatively and provided an example of an influenza vaccine.

“I don’t think so, because the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration were ready to register all vaccines that are more than 50 percent effective. It was agreed that this threshold indicated that the vaccine was sufficiently Effective. The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is only 30 to 50 percent to protect against the disease, “emphasized the professor.

At the same time, he explained that the main goal of vaccines is to protect people from serious illness and death, which he said is fully achieved through the use of all EU-approved coronavirus vaccines.

According to A. Ambrozaitis, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be vaccinated for people of all ages.

“More than 43 thousand people participated in clinical trials. people and there have been enough volunteers over 65, so we have enough data that this vaccine is effective in people 18 to 90 years or older, “he said.

The doctor also reiterated that the side effects that occur after vaccines are a completely natural response of the body.

“These reactions are the body’s normal response to the vaccine. This indicates that an immune response is taking place and that antibodies are being produced. (…) Not all reactions can be compared to the suffering of patients suffering from a serious illness. They are incomparable things ”, emphasized A. Ambrozaitis.

Ask country leaders to lead by example

Finally, he pointed out that for people to have a more favorable attitude towards vaccination, communication between institutions and experts must be improved, and heads of state, according to the professor, could also set an example by vaccinating.

“We need more education and communication. It would be very good if the first officials and leaders of our state set an example by being vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which for some reason is now negative and about which there is now such an unfounded opinion. Only with their An example would show that this vaccine is really safe. And we experts should talk more, SAM should communicate more, speak in a language that people can understand about all vaccines, “said A. Ambrozaitis, who once again assured that All vaccines registered by the European Medicines Agency are safe to use.



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