LAST week, president Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that South Africa had secured 30 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Janssen Covid-19 vaccine.
Being manufactured locally at Aspen Pharmacare in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, the second phase of the vaccination roll-out is expected to get under way by May.
There are still many questions about the vaccine itself, so here’s a brief overview of the most frequently asked questions.
How does the vaccine work?
The J&J vaccine is a viral vector vaccine which uses the shell of a virus – in this case a version of the adenovirus – to carry the gene or DNA for the spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Our cells read the DNA and make copies of the spike protein to trigger an immune reaction. The vaccine itself cannot cause an infection.
Our cells read the DNA and make copies of the spike protein to trigger an immune reaction. The vaccine itself cannot cause an infection.
Why is it a single-dose vaccine?
Unlike the mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, the J&J vaccine is a single dose which makes for a much easier vaccination roll-out. The preliminary data released by Janssen indicates that the vaccine can adequately teach the immune system to recognise and respond to SARS-Cov-2 infections without needing a booster shot.
How effective is the vaccine?
When looking at protection against the virus, the J&J vaccine has a 66.3% effectiveness, but it’s important to note that it has 85% effectiveness against severe disease, and 100% effectiveness against death as a result of the virus (and this includes the 501Y.V2 variant). This is to say that you might get the virus, but it will be a milder version that isn’t life-threatening.
What are the side-effects?
As with most vaccines, you might experience some side-effects after vaccination, but they will be mild and short-lived. No one has developed any severe allergic reactions, and the J&J vaccine reportedly has milder side-effects than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. These include fatigue, fever, headaches, pain at the injection site or myalgia – pain in the muscles. But these should resolve themselves in a day or two.
Can I stop wearing a mask after the vaccine?
We are still in the early phases of vaccinations worldwide, which means practising social distancing, sanitising and mask-wearing will likely continue for some time. Like the flu shot, the J&J vaccine – in fact all vaccines – is not 100% effective against SARS-CoV-2, so you could still contract a milder version of the disease and pass this on to an unvaccinated person. That’s why it’s best to keep practising health and safety even after your vaccination.
Keep updated on all the latest vaccination news via https://sacoronavirus.co.za/vaccine-updates/
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