Which vaccine for a booster dose? The study sheds new light on the effectiveness of the preparations

The COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson may be most effective for people who want a booster dose and previously benefited from the Pfizer / BioNTech preparation, researchers from the US said. In Poland, however, such a possibility is not available.

1. The latest research conducted by scientists from the USA sheds new light on the effectiveness of individual preparations used in vaccination against COVID-19
2. Researchers emphasize that people who take a booster dose from Johnson & Johnson can count on a much longer protection against infection
3. In turn, the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines used as a booster behave differently, the effectiveness of which after a few weeks is much lower
4. In Poland, as a booster dose, we can vaccinate ourselves with Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna
5. You can find more such information on the TvoiLokony home page

Scientists argue that vaccination with J&J as a booster dose, if we previously used the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, gives greater protection against a severe course of the disease. The research was carried out on a group of 65 people who had previously received two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine. So this is a small study and its results should be approached with caution.

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1. How to sign up for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine? [WE EXPLAIN]

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine gives long-term immunity

Observations showed that among the subjects who received the J&J vaccine as a booster dose, a slightly slower but more sustained antibody response developed against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, as well as the Delta and Beta variants.

As their research showed, the third dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine produced a faster and stronger immune response, but it lasted much shorter. The J&J vaccine also increased the number of immune cells called CD8 T cells.

«Both vaccines significantly increase the amount of antibodies. After four weeks their number is almost the same. After this period, however, antibody levels began to drop in the people who received the Pfizer dose. Meanwhile, the levels of antibodies in the people who received J&J continued to rise, »Dr. Dan Barouch of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, who oversaw the research, told CNN.

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Scientists are looking for ways to combat the Omikron variant

Antibodies are a kind of first line of defense that can stop the coronavirus from infecting our cells. In turn, T lymphocytes act in the next phase when we get sick and destroy previously infected cells. In this way, lymphocytes inhibit the further development of the disease.

The Omikron variant that has emerged in recent weeks was not included in the study. But Barouch believes their discovery will help figure out a way to fight the new strain of coronavirus. The scientist believes that CD8 T cells will play a very important role in the fight against Omicron, which will act as a safeguard in the event that subsequent variants successfully bypass the antibodies.

Third dose. How can I register for vaccination?

From November 2, a referral for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is issued to all adult citizens who have been six months since the last dose, and 50 months in the case of people aged 5 and over.

In Poland, you can get vaccinated with a booster dose. However, we can only choose vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer / BioNTech. It is recommended that this be the same vaccine as for the first two vaccinations.

If you want to check if you have contracted the coronavirus, go to Medonet Market and order one of the available COVID-19 shipping tests.

Also read:

1. Infections and deaths among vaccinated. How many cases have there been?
2. How effective will individual companies’ vaccines be against Omikron?
3. Moderna or Pfizer – which COVID-19 vaccine is more effective? A new study is setting debate on

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