JOHNSON & JOHNSON'S single-dose COVID vaccine was authorized in the European Union Thursday, the fourth shot greenlighted by the bloc.
AFP spoke to J&J's Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels about what it means for the fight to end the pandemic. The interview was edited for clarity.
AFP: What makes the J&J vaccine such an important tool?
Stoffels: The vaccine we just got approved by the European authorities is a single-shot vaccine, and it's the first vaccine which was studied on a very large scale (around 40,000 people), including the variants. And we have shown high efficacy against severe disease as well as hospitalization and death.
In addition, it's a single dose with stability that you ship at 2 to 8 Celsius, normal refrigeration, which will help facilitate large-scale implementation in the world.
AFP: What's your response to criticism that J&J's shot isn't as protective as the RNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna?
Stoffels: We did our study globally, on three continents: the US, South America, and South Africa, but also in very difficult circumstances in the surge of the pandemic.
We now know the efficacy of the vaccine on the variants, and also can show that independent of region, independent of variant, or of age, you protect against severe disease, death and hospitalization.
And that is 85 percent protection for severe disease, but also 100 percent so far, we have not seen after day 28 (any) people who are hospitalized or dead. That's the most important challenge in this disease.
AFP: J&J's vaccine uses a common-cold causing adenovirus, genetically-modified so it can't replicate, as a "vector" to carry the gene for a part of the coronavirus to human cells in order to train the immune system. What's the biological advantage of this approach?
Stoffels: We have a very decent antibody response, but cellular immunity is the one which makes it durable, but also broad spectrum.
We learned that already: we have done an Ebola vaccine, a Zika vaccine, and we're working on an HIV vaccine. The secret sauce of such a vaccine is the combination of both.
AFP: Can you explain in easy terms what cellular immunity is?
Stoffels: When you get vaccinated as a child, you get your vaccines, which protects you for your life.
So your body memory memorizes this pathogen, the disease agent.
Although for many of them, you will not measure antibodies anymore later on, your body still can react because it immediately knows 'This is a pathogen I've seen before.' And that's where cellular immunity is very important, both for the efficacy immediately but also for remembering for a long time.
AFP: What's the state of your studies for children and pregnant women?
Stoffels: At the moment, we are studying the vaccine in adolescents, that is ongoing, and that is 12 to 17 years. Phase 2 and 3 (when efficacy studies begin) for children below 12 years begins in April. Pregnant women will be studied beginning now.
AFP: Will you make variant specific vaccines?
Stoffels: Out of abundance of precaution, we started already making a vaccine based on the South African variant. We don't know whether we'll need it, but if it's needed, it's on the way, and we are at the moment during the early stages of upscaling.
AFP: Some scientists have raised concerns that repeating your vaccine will be a problem because the immune system will remember the virus used as a vector and attack it, reducing efficacy.
Would this pose a problem for boosters?
Stoffels: In our HIV vaccine work, we give people exposure to the vector four times over a year. Although we saw small changes, we did not see that we couldn't use it for a booster.
Ad26 (Adenovirus 26) as a vector, the one we have, was selected for low immunogenicity, as well as low presence in humans. We are reasonably comfortable that we can boost the vaccine without issue.
AFP: Is there anything else we should know?
Stoffels: We have a very comprehensive network in the world to make sure we can serve the entire world, as well as collaborations with Covax (the global vaccine initiative).
We hope that very quickly after what we're doing in the US and Europe, that we move to being able to vaccinate the entire world. And we have a big commitment at J&J to do this at a not for profit price.
ETX Studio
Fri Mar 12 2021
![J&J's top scientist on their COVID vaccine's 'secret sauce' J&J's top scientist on their COVID vaccine's 'secret sauce'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/61615542157_VACCINE.jpg)
Syringes with doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine await recipients at a vaccination site at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. ETXStudiopic
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723704577_RusdiMohdIsa.jpg)
Polis sahkan pemain bola sepak bawa kerambit sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol
Polis telah mengenal pasti seorang pemain bola sepak yang ditahan kerana membawa kerambit ke padang bola, sebagai suspek kes baling bom petrol di sebuah pusat hiburan di ibu negara.
![Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723703465_TBperkeso.jpg)
Bernama, Perkeso meterai MoU, manfaat 493 pengamal media sambilan
Bernama dan Perkeso menandatangani MoU bagi memperluas perlindungan sosial kepada pengamal media sambilan (stringers) melalui Skim Keselamatan Sosial Pekerjaan Sendiri (SKSPS).
![RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723701143_TBastro.jpg)
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
AWANI Ringkas: Pemain bola bawa kerambit juga suspek baling bom petrol
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723702959_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Enam mengaku tidak bersalah culik warga China
Sepasang suami isteri dan empat individu didakwa menculik seorang lelaki warga China untuk mendapatkan wang tebusan berbentuk mata wang kripto.
![Vaksin COVID-19: Malaysia lulus penggunaan kecemasan Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson Vaksin COVID-19: Malaysia lulus penggunaan kecemasan Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/81626409203_SinopharmdanJohnso.jpg)
Vaksin COVID-19: Malaysia lulus penggunaan kecemasan Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson
Kelulusan pendaftaran bersyarat ini memerlukan maklumat kualiti, keselamatan dan keberkesanan produk vaksin tersebut dipantau dan dinilai.
![COVID-19: Pakar optimis trend kematian di AS tidak seteruk tahun lalu COVID-19: Pakar optimis trend kematian di AS tidak seteruk tahun lalu](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/61623106811_NEWYORKVACCINE.jpg)
COVID-19: Pakar optimis trend kematian di AS tidak seteruk tahun lalu
Profesor epidemiologi di Johns Hopkins University, Dr David Dowdy optimis kadar kematian tidak akan menyamai trend tahun lalu.
![Vaksin COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson berkesan tangani varian Delta Vaksin COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson berkesan tangani varian Delta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51625193667_JohnsonJohnson.jpg)
Vaksin COVID-19: Johnson & Johnson berkesan tangani varian Delta
Data menunjukkan ketahanan tindak balas imunisasi bagi penerima vaksinnya bertahan sekurang-kurangnya lapan bulan.
![COVID-19: Suntikan ketiga vaksin AstraZeneca tingkatkan tindak balas imun COVID-19: Suntikan ketiga vaksin AstraZeneca tingkatkan tindak balas imun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/71624898589_AstraZenecaCOVID.jpg)
COVID-19: Suntikan ketiga vaksin AstraZeneca tingkatkan tindak balas imun
Suntikan ketiga vaksin AstraZeneca hasilkan tindak balas imun yang kuat
![Penduduk Pulau Perhentian, Redang dijangka terima suntikan vaksin satu dos Penduduk Pulau Perhentian, Redang dijangka terima suntikan vaksin satu dos](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/51622553024_PengerusiJawatankua.jpg)
Penduduk Pulau Perhentian, Redang dijangka terima suntikan vaksin satu dos
Vaksin satu dos dilihat lebih bertepatan untuk disuntik kepada penduduk yang tinggal di kawasan tersebut.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/51617709639_BAP.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Mexico terima 1.35 juta dos vaksin Johnson & Johnson dari AS Mexico terima 1.35 juta dos vaksin Johnson & Johnson dari AS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-04/61618350694_TBMEXICOVACCINE.jpg)
Mexico terima 1.35 juta dos vaksin Johnson & Johnson dari AS
Selepas selesai menerima suntikan vaksin, sekatan sempadan tidak akan diteruskan.
![Sarawak sudah mohon peruntukan CanSino daripada Kerajaan Pusat Sarawak sudah mohon peruntukan CanSino daripada Kerajaan Pusat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/41622453183_Vaksinator.jpg)
Sarawak sudah mohon peruntukan CanSino daripada Kerajaan Pusat
Sarawak telah menghantar permohonan kepada Kerajaan Pusat peruntukan menerima vaksin CanSino untuk kegunaan negeri itu.
![Penggunaan CanSino dan Johnson & Johnson bantu percepatkan imuniti kelompok Penggunaan CanSino dan Johnson & Johnson bantu percepatkan imuniti kelompok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/71623239561_Vaccine.jpg)
Penggunaan CanSino dan Johnson & Johnson bantu percepatkan imuniti kelompok
Penggunaan dua jenis vaksin buatan CanSino dan Johnson & Johnson (J&J) dilihat mampu mempercepatkan sasaran pemberian vaksin terhadap seluruh masyarakat.
![Vaksin CanSino, Johnson & Johnson diluluskan untuk pendaftaran bersyarat Vaksin CanSino, Johnson & Johnson diluluskan untuk pendaftaran bersyarat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-06/71623741676_JohnsonCanSino.jpg)
Vaksin CanSino, Johnson & Johnson diluluskan untuk pendaftaran bersyarat
Kedua-dua vaksin itu hanya memerlukan satu dos.