While several countries are at risk of vaccine shortages and some laboratories have abandoned research, the Johnson &Johnson (J&J) vaccine could do well. Officials promise good efficacy from the first dose and simplicity in terms of logistics. The results of its phase III trial will be known shortly.
Regarding vaccines against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 , the names of Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or AstraZeneca-Oxford have come back insistently in recent months. In pole position, we find Pfizer-BioNTech, the first company to market its vaccine. However, it recently announced a drop in production, putting some countries in difficulty such as the United States. It is therefore no coincidence that the country is also turning to Moderna, although production is also limited and this company is rather controversial.
AstraZeneca is currently struggling with the European Union, which is demanding more transparency and guarantees. As for Merck and Pasteur, the research was abandoned. Thus, three vaccines are currently authorized in Europe, but each require the injection of two doses. This complicates the vaccination process and of course the supply.
Other vaccines are still being prepared , namely the controversial CoronaVac (China) or the Sputnik V (Russia). However, it seems that the Johnson &Johnson (USA) vaccine has a serious card to play.
In April 2020, we were already talking about the Johnson &Johnson vaccine, boosted by a major financial agreement with the United States. This company had indeed promised the production of one billion ready-to-use vaccines. However, this had created a controversy, as J&J seemed to be going blind. Indeed, production was launched without any test having been carried out on the human being. Nevertheless, J&J has since conducted tests and its preliminary studies are encouraging, according to a September 2020 Wall Street Journal article. should see the light of day shortly.
J&J promises that a single dose produces an immune reaction equivalent to that induced by the two doses vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. This perspective of performing a single injection per person is therefore very interesting from a logistical and financial point of view. In addition, the J&J vaccine is based on the adenovirus method and not on messenger RNA technology. Thus, this one is much simpler and requires conventional refrigeration. Here again, there is an important logistical and financial interest.
In short, J&J may have found the ideal formula to ensure a mass vaccination on a global scale without a hitch. . Its simplicity could appeal to rich countries, but also to developing countries that do not have large resources. The future will tell if this company will receive honors in the fight against the coronavirus.
