MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We’ll begin with that information about COVID-19 vaccines. New ones might quickly be on the best way. The drug firm Johnson & Johnson introduced the outcomes of latest medical trials for a one-shot vaccine. The firm says its vaccine was 66% efficient at stopping reasonable to extreme COVID-19.

To assist us perceive what all this implies, we’re joined as soon as once more by NPR well being reporter Pien Huang. Pien, welcome again. Thanks for becoming a member of us.

PIEN HUANG, BYLINE: Thanks a lot for having me, Michel.

MARTIN: So first, assist us perceive what it implies that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 66% efficient. That is lower than each the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, proper?

HUANG: Properly, Johnson & Johnson examined their vaccine on greater than 40,000 individuals around the globe – within the U.S., South Africa, Latin America. And total, what they discovered was that it protected about two-thirds of these individuals, 66%, who acquired it from getting even reasonably in poor health with COVID-19. Now, it would not sound as spectacular as what we have seen from Pfizer and Moderna, as you talked about. , their information each exhibits that they are round 95% efficient at protecting individuals from getting sick from COVID in any respect.

However well being consultants say that one other key quantity from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it is 85% efficient at stopping extreme illness, which implies the virus (ph) seems to be actually good at protecting individuals alive and out of the hospital. And that efficacy of the vaccine for Johnson & Johnson is definitely fairly just like what we see with the flu vaccine.

MARTIN: So inform me extra about that. I imply, the flu vaccine is one thing we inform individuals to get yearly.

HUANG: Yeah. Properly, this is Seema Lakdawala. She’s a flu virologist on the College of Pittsburgh.

SEEMA LAKDAWALA: Once we suggest individuals get a flu vaccine shot, it isn’t one hundred percent efficient. At finest, it is 80%, however usually, it is round 60.

HUANG: Lakdawalla says that even when the flu vaccine is not good, it nonetheless helps lots of people get much less sick and keep out of the hospital, so it is nonetheless actually helpful. And if the bar wasn’t already set so excessive by the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, researchers say we would be rejoicing on the J & J vaccine. And plenty of of them nonetheless are as a result of there are a variety of logistical issues that this vaccine may resolve.

MARTIN: Properly, inform me extra about that. What are a few of these issues, and the way is the J & J vaccine completely different?

HUANG: Properly, one of many largest benefits is that in contrast to the present vaccines we’re presently giving out, the J & J solely takes one shot, and inside seven to 10 days, it begins exhibiting effectiveness. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the president, says there are another key benefits.

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ANTHONY FAUCI: It is extremely, superb with regard to chilly chain necessities – specifically, requiring solely a fridge. It’s cheap, and the corporate is able to making doses within the numbers of billions.

HUANG: , the CEO of Johnson & Johnson informed NPR on Friday that they’ll ship a billion vaccines this 12 months, and that might make an enormous distinction. I imply, the pandemic is a world downside, and a billion doses would cowl round 1 in eight individuals around the globe. And Fauci additionally mentioned that for the reason that J & J vaccine was examined in South Africa, it additionally seems to be efficient at defending individuals towards the variant strains which have cropped up there and that it retains them from ending up within the hospital.

MARTIN: Properly, you realize, I do not wish to, you realize, put a damper on what appears to be excellent news, however I do wish to discuss these variants for a second. Ought to we be fearful that the virus is outrunning the vaccine?

HUANG: Properly, that’s one thing that researchers are protecting a really shut eye on. , they’re working in labs across the clock to guarantee that our vaccines and coverings work. And Pfizer and Moderna are already formulating booster photographs based mostly on particular variants, simply in case the vaccines begin dropping effectiveness, although they nonetheless appear fairly efficient proper now.

However we additionally produce other instruments that might cease virus variants from rising and taking up. Jenny Ting, an immunologist on the College of North Carolina, says the answer is to not let the virus unfold.

JENNY TING: So the quicker we are able to include it, in fact, the higher it’s with each technique we now have, you realize, whether or not it is masking or social distance or simply watch out or vaccines.

HUANG: So public well being consultants are actually urging individuals to get whichever FDA-sanctioned vaccine they’ll get as quickly as attainable to attenuate their possibilities of ending up within the hospital with COVID and to cease the virus from spreading.

MARTIN: That’s NPR well being reporter Pien Huang with an vital replace. Pien, thanks a lot.

HUANG: Thanks, Michel.

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