J&J says single-shot Covid-19 vaccine neutralises Delta variant, ‘no need for booster’
- Johnson & Johnson says its vaccine generates strong antibodies against all variants
- The Delta variant has been identified in at least 96 countries, according to the WHO
The company said that recipients of its vaccine produced strong neutralising antibodies over the course of at least eight months against all variants including Delta, which was first seen in India and has been spreading around the globe.
The variant has been identified in at least 96 countries, according to the World Health Organization.
Delta was expected to become the dominant strain in the United States in the coming weeks, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The J&J shot provides less protection initially than messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, and experts have been discussing whether some people may need booster shots to keep the virus at bay long-term.
“We’re extremely happy, actually, and confident there’s no need for the booster at the moment and we’re protected against different strains,” said Johan Van Hoof, J&J’s global head of infectious diseases and vaccines.