WHO Experts Say Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Effective Versus COVID-19 Variants

by Joe Saballa / Mar 19, 2021 06:17 AM EDT

Several experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement regarding the novel coronavirus vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson.

On March 17, the vaccine advisers of the said organization revealed that the multinational corporation's vaccine is recommended for countries that have COVID-19 variants.

In a report by The Straits Times, WHO already approved the use of the said vaccine on Friday, citing that it can now be used on people aged 18 and above, and it has proven effective in areas where there is a high spread of the variants.

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) said that Johnson & Johnson vaccine is effective against the South African variant and that it has similar observable efficacies in the United States where newly emerging variants are not that predominant.

"We have a vaccine that shows to be safe and it shows to have the necessary efficacy to be recommended by us for use in people above the age of 18, without an upper age limit," Alejandro Cravioto, the chairman of SAGE, quipped to media people.

The vaccine that was developed by Johnson & Johnson is not similar to vaccines developed by other prominent pharmaceutical firms. Countries will only initiate a single-shot vaccination program using this vaccine. It can also be stored in regular refrigerators, unlike other vaccines that have to be in equipment with very cold temperatures.

In a recent report by Gulf News, the American corporation revealed that its single-shot vaccine is 66 percent effective in preventing moderate to severe illness and 85 percent effective against the most serious complications.

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that several giant countries in Europe have ordered to stop the inoculation of the AstraZeneca vaccine to their people. Germany, France, and Italy are temporarily halting the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after some nations reported serious side effects. The health minister of Germany said that it was a "professional decision."