Johnson & Johnson booster dose of its COVID shot prompts strong response

LONDON (AP) — Johnson & Johnson released data showing that a booster dose to its one-shot coronavirus vaccine provides a strong immune response months after people receive a first dose.

J&J said in statement Tuesday that it ran two early studies in people previously given its vaccine and found that a second dose produced an increased antibody response in adults from age 18 to 55. The study’s results haven’t yet been peer-reviewed.

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“A booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine further increases antibody responses among study participants who had previously received our vaccine,” said Dr. Mathai Mammen, global head of research and development at J&J.

The company is in talks with regulators including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency and others regarding using booster doses of its vaccine.

In Canada, the Johnson and Johnson shot, called Janssen COVID-19, has been approved for use in adults 18 and older since March. Under an interim order, Canadians could receive one dose of the shot, with an estimated effectiveness of 66 per cent, according to clinical trials. But plans to distribute the shots were put on hold and in June it appears the government did not order additional shipments. In the province of B.C., the vaccine is not being administered.