The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was officially granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA on February 27, 2021 and recommended by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on February 28, 2021. Compared to mRNA platform vaccines previously authorized for emergency use in the US, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a non-replicating adenoviral vector vaccine which is considered an inactivated viral vaccine. The trial occurred when new, highly transmissible variants were emerging. Across all sites, the vaccine was approximately 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19, 85% effective in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 and 100% effective in preventing hospitalization. The vaccine has an excellent safety profile; side effects were generally mild, lasting 1-2 days. Owing to differences in research protocols and settings, direct comparison of efficacy with other EUA vaccines is not feasible.

Similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, initial supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be limited. Vaccinators must report all serious adverse events, vaccine administration errors, hospitalizations, and deaths to the FDA and CDC through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Also ensure that V-safe (a voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID19 vaccination) is available to vaccine recipients.

 

Key Messages about Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine:

 

• Janssen’s single dose vaccine has been shown to prevent COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death. Reported side effects to date are typically milder than with other currently approved vaccines. As with any vaccine, adverse reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur.
• The vaccine was studied in multiple countries, including South Africa and Brazil, both places where variants of COVID-19 have emerged.
• This vaccine can be stored at refrigerator temperatures (as well as in the freezer for up to 2 months) and does not require reconstitution— so it is easy to transport, store and administer, and allows for expanded availability in most community settings and mobile sites.
• We now have three vaccine with impressive efficacy— more people in Chicago will be able to get vaccinated, including individuals (e.g., healthcare workers) who have declined mRNA vaccines.
• Remember to strongly encourage all authorized COVID-19 vaccines in this lime of limited supply and growing variant prevalence; learn to discuss the difference between viral vector and mRNA vaccines.