Is the end of covid-19 near with the Pfizer vaccine?
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(CNN Spanish) -
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is about to become the seventh coronavirus vaccine to be approved in the world.
In this episode, Dr. Huerta tells us about the technology behind its manufacture.
We also see one of the advantages that puts it, perhaps, ahead of the other approved vaccines.
You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, or read the transcript below.
Hello, I am Dr. Elmer Huerta and this is your daily dose of information on the new coronavirus.
Information that we hope will be useful to take care of your health and that of your family.
The development of vaccines against covid-19 continues at a safe pace.
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As we described in the episode of January 4, so far, the vaccines that have been authorized as an emergency by authorities in several countries are:
Modern
Pfizer
AstraZeneca
Gamaleya Institute
Sinopharm
Cansino
The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine: What Is Known About It?
Now, a new vaccine, developed by Janssen Laboratory, a Belgian subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuticals, in partnership with Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is likely to be the next to be approved.
In the first place, it is important to know that the technology used by this vaccine is that of the viral vector, a technology also used by AstraZeneca, Cansino and the Gamaleya Institute, among others.
This type of technology requires basic knowledge of molecular biology to be understood.
In simple words, scientists have succeeded in inactivating a human cold virus called Ad26.
Therefore, the virus cannot replicate within the person or cause disease.
Then, they have inserted into the Ad26 genome a DNA gene that has the template to make the spikes of the new coronavirus.
When the person is vaccinated, the Ad26 virus is taken up by the cells and taken to the nucleus, where - thanks to the DNA with the template to make spikes - the messenger RNA that has the precise instructions to make the spikes of the new coronavirus is made .
With these instructions, the cells begin to produce the proteins of the coronavirus spikes, which are recognized by the defense system of the vaccinated person, which believes that the body is being attacked by the complete coronavirus, so it begins to produce antibodies and memory cells against SARS CoV2.
That is the vaccine.
Results of Phase 1 and 2 Studies of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
On January 13, the preliminary results of phase 1 and phase 2 studies of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are published in The New England Journal of Medicine, phases that, as described in previous episodes of this podcast, are aimed at know if the vaccine is safe and if it is effective, that is, if it causes the production of neutralizing antibodies and memory defense cells against SARS CoV2.
A total of 805 volunteers were divided into two groups, according to their age: those between 18 and 55 years old, and those older than 65 years.
The volunteers were divided into groups that received high and low doses of the vaccine compared to a placebo and groups that received one dose or two doses of the vaccine.
The results showed that the vaccine was effective and - whether they received one or two doses - it caused the production of neutralizing antibodies on day 57 in 100% of the volunteers.
This is important as it shows that this type of vaccine would require only one dose.
On the other hand, the amount of antibodies remained high and stable until the 71st day of follow-up after vaccination.
Did the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have side effects?
In addition to causing the production of antibodies, the vaccine was also able to stimulate the production of memory defense cells, which were less numerous in people over 65 years of age.
With regard to safety, the side effects were minimal, with pain at the injection site, fever, fatigue and muscle pain, with young people having the most side effects.
Currently, phase 3 studies are underway in around 45,000 people, the results of which should be available this month.
If the vaccine is shown to be effective in preventing infection, Johnson & Johnson is expected to apply to the FDA for emergency use authorization in February, so it is possible that in that month there will be one more vaccine in the portfolio of immunizations.
The great advantages of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it only takes one dose and that it can be stored in a regular refrigerator at 2-8 degrees Celsius for up to three months.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus?
Send me your questions on Twitter, we will try to answer them in our next episodes.
You can find me at @DrHuerta.
You see that we answer them.
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Thanks for your attention.
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