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Johnson & Johnson Krem do Twarzy - Odkryj Tajemnice Zdrowej i Promiennej Skóry
What are the benefits of this vaccine?
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be kept in regular refrigerators, and it doesn't require as stringent cold-storage conditions as the Moderna and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines do. That makes it easier to transport and distribute, which could make it a more practical option for mobile or drive-thru vaccination sites and for rural communities.
"It has the potential to reach many people who have had great logistical barriers," said Dr. Muriel Jean-Jacques, an assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University. "It has literally taken the National Guard and the military to get the vaccine out effectively to many rural communities. How wonderful it is to be able to do that much more simply."
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine also requires only a single dose, which will alleviate the administrative burdens of scheduling two shots several weeks apart. As a result, it could be ideal for communities that have struggled to get the other vaccines.
"I have many homebound seniors who love the idea of having someone come to their home once — or if they have to leave their home, they only have to leave once — and then they're protected," Jean-Jacques said. "So there are many people who would be very happy with a one-shot vaccine."
Dr. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, agreed, saying the one-dose regimen might be preferable for some people whose work or home lives may make it more difficult to make two appointments.
Some people "cannot afford to take a day off to get a second vaccine," he said. "If you are unlikely to return for a second vaccine, I think the Johnson & Johnson may be better."
DNA Inside an Adenovirus
Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine comes out of decades of research on adenovirus-based vaccines. In July, the first one was approved for general use — a vaccine for Ebola, also made by Johnson & Johnson. The company is also running trials on adenovirus-based vaccines for other diseases, including H.I.V. and Zika. Some other coronavirus vaccines are also based on adenoviruses, such as the one developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca using a chimpanzee adenovirus.
Adenovirus-based vaccines for Covid-19 are more rugged than mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. DNA is not as fragile as RNA, and the adenovirus’s tough protein coat helps protect the genetic material inside. As a result, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be refrigerated for up to three months at 36–46°F (2–8°C).
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Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor at George Washington University, says that's a big plus for the J&J vaccine.
"If there are individuals who may not like needles, who may have concerns about returning for a second shot, who may not want the inconvenience of scheduling a second appointment, or who may be concerned that there isn't enough supply of the vaccine at the moment for a second shot — for those individuals, that convenience of being done [after one dose], fully vaccinated, is really important," Wen says.
Still, the J&J vaccine is a little different from the others. Here's what you need to know.
How does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine work?