The Johnson & Johnson vaccine given to South African health care workers is effective against the Covid-19 Omicron variant during a recent study, scientists said on Saturday.
The study monitored the health care workers to see the effectiveness of the drug in “presenting it as the world’s first evidence on the vaccines’ efficacy against the omicron variant,” Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and Health Foundation director Linda-Gail Bekker said.
Bekker said during the Johnson & Johnson vaccination of the health care workers, the vaccine held its ground against the Beta and Delta variants – and the question was whether there was a drop in ineffectiveness against the Omicron variant.
“It was important to have a look. And we have done so, with the two doses that the doctors and nurses and other health care workers have now received,” Bekker said.
She added: “And it’s important to reassure that the cohort that we saw maintained vaccine effectiveness – even against Omicron. We felt it was very important to reassure the individuals who had come for the boosts.”
Meanwhile, the health ministry reminded the public that booster Covid-19 vaccines are available to South Africans at clinics of their choice.
J&J’s booster vaccines are available to those who received their first shot of the vaccine at least two months ago, the ministry said.
“We encourage people who have had the single-dose J&J to go and get vaccinated,” the ministry said.
NM/jn/APA