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CDC Provides Clinical Call on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was authorized this weekend by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On March 2nd, the CDC provided a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call on the clinical considerations of the new vaccine. We encourage members to access the slides and recording to ensure familiarity with the new vaccine and its administration. Please access the CDC site for the recording and slides from the call.

The CDC generally emphasized that "the first vaccine you can access is the best vaccine to receive." The J&J vaccine has a 66.3 percent overall efficacy rate, 83 percent efficacy against severe disease, 93 percent efficacy against hospitalization, and 100 percent efficacy against death due to COVID-19. The J&J vaccine is a single-dose shot and is authorized for persons 18 and over. It is administered by intramuscular injection and is shipped and stored at refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. No diluent is necessary for administration. As with other vaccines, this vaccine is not interchangeable and is not to be mixed with another. The J&J vaccine is particularly suited to individuals who are homebound or mobile.

Many of the clinical recommendations for this new vaccine have been synthesized with the recommendations related to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. They will be posted soon to the CDC site, if not already. Some of these recommendations include:

  • similar actions related to contraindications and precautions due to allergic reactions to injectables or vaccine ingredients;
  • same timing of doses post-isolation for individuals with COVID-19;
  • same patient monitoring times post-vaccination;
  • efficacy of vaccination occurs two weeks after second dose; 
  • vaccination should occur 90 days after monoclonal antibody therapy;
  • administration 14 days before or after other vaccines (i.e., influenza) or at shorter intervals where benefits outweigh risks if delayed; 
  • similar recommendations for those with underlying medical conditions or who are immunocompromised or pregnant.

The CDC stated that additional guidance is forthcoming related to contraindications to the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines and if the Janssen vaccine is appropriate in their stead.

The question and answer (Q&A) session revealed that the ingredients of the J&J vaccine are different than those of the mRNA vaccines. The J&J vaccine contains polysorbate, not polyethylene glycol. Vaccinators should do a thorough review of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fact sheet on the vaccine and its ingredients. For those interested in the makeup and structure of the vaccine, this information is presented in the Q&A approximately 44 minutes into the call.

LeadingAge NY encourages all members to review the recording and slides to obtain a full understanding of the new vaccine.

Contact: Meg Everett, meverett@leadingageny.org, 518-929-9342