What evidence should individuals weigh when deciding whether to get a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
What evidence should individuals weigh when deciding whether to get a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
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SciLine reaches out to our network of scientific experts and poses commonly asked questions about newsworthy topics. Reporters can use the video clips, audio, and comments below in news stories, with attribution to the scientist who made them.
SciLine reaches out to our network of scientific experts and poses commonly asked questions about newsworthy topics. Reporters can use the video clips, audio, and comments below in news stories, with attribution to the scientist who made them.
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Expert Comments:
Monica Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H.
In terms of the Johnson & Johnson ‘booster’ or second dose, the same comparison analysis from the CDC showed that the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine provided only 71% protection against hospitalization during the delta surge. The FDA panel today essentially recommended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a two-dose series for everyone—not just in selected groups—with the second dose to be given two months after the first.
Dave O’Connor, Ph.D.
If a friend received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, I would strongly urge them to get a booster. The convenience of this single-dose regimen was important earlier in the year, but the immunity it engendered isn’t as potent as the mRNA vaccines. As we head into the winter, getting a booster as soon as it is available to improve protection is like putting snow tires on a car; you don’t want to wait until there is a blizzard to start thinking about it.
Paul Spearman, M.D.
It is important to remember the Johnson & Johnson vaccine continues to protect individuals against severe disease from COVID-19. The available data suggest that a second dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine does boost neutralizing antibody titers, although in a somewhat modest manner. The FDA review panel recommended that everyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine receive a second dose, with the idea that the second dose will increase protection levels, which were somewhat lower than that seen with the two-dose mRNA vaccines. Making this a more interesting question is a study called the Mix and Match Study, where mRNA or adenoviral vector boosters were compared. Although a small study, the available data suggest that it may be advantageous to pursue heterologous boosting (adenovirus followed by mRNA) as compared with homologous boosting (adenovirus followed by adenovirus). While this result does not negate the potential value of a second adenovirus dose, it may mean that heterologous boosting is considered in future meetings.
One concern raised by panel members and shared by others is that new recommendations for boosters could confuse the public. Individuals should note that changing recommendations are made in response to new data weighing the protective efficacy of our current vaccines and the higher boosted levels of antibodies, with the goal of providing the best protection for all Americans.
