Johnson and Johnson vaccine booster shots now available
The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) Janssen COVID-19 vaccine has a lower effectiveness over time compared to the Pfizer and Moderna, which is why the FDA expanded the authorization of booster shots for any individuals 18 or older who received the J&J vaccine at least two months ago. For those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the booster is available for more specific groups six months after their second dose. This includes individuals who are 65 years of age and older, those who are 18 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions and 18 through 64 years of age who work or live in a high-risk setting such as first responders, education staff or food and agriculture workers.
The FDA has also approved a “mix and match” approach for booster doses. Those who are eligible for the booster can receive a vaccine from J&J, Moderna or Pfizer-BionTech. The J&J vaccine is an adenovirus vaccine, while Moderna and Pfizer are mRNA vaccines. Both types deliver genetic material to your cells, but they use different methods. The adenovirus vaccine delivers DNA carried by an adenovirus, or an altered virus that can’t replicate or make you sick, and causes the body to make a spike protein and develop an immune response and create antibodies. A mRNA vaccine delivers messenger RNA which teaches the cells how to create a protein that creates an immune response. The result of increased antibodies is the same for types of vaccines.
The National Institute of Health has completed a study testing combinations of the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines, showing that boosting with different vaccinations is safe and any combination increases antibody levels. The NIH also found that those who received the Moderna vaccine and booster had the highest antibody levels, followed by those who received the Pfizer vaccine and Moderna booster, and then the Moderna vaccine and Pfizer booster. Those who received the J&J vaccine and then booster had the lowest amount of antibodies, which could indicate that receiving a mRNA booster shot, specifically Moderna, would be more effective. But antibodies are not the only factors in deciding the effectiveness of the combinations. There are other considerations such as T-cells (immune cells that defend against viruses) which the J&J vaccine produces. It is important to note that the study has not been peer reviewed yet and it is only looking at short term antibody response which is different from long term effectiveness.
Booster shots are currently being offered in Lincoln for those filling the requirements. You can book an appointment at https://www.vaccines.gov or by texting your zipcode to 438829.
By Aubrey Benton