| In this week's edition of the Covid Q&A, we take a look at the Johnson & Johnson shot. In hopes of making this very confusing time just a little less so, each week Bloomberg Prognosis is picking one question sent in by readers and putting it to experts in the field. This week's question comes to us from Betti in Laurel, MD. Betti receive the Johnson & Johnson shot and wonders whether its as good as other vaccines on the market. She asks: Is our vaccination fully effective since we received only one shot? And will a booster be required for those of us that received the J&J? The J&J has had a rough news week. With the delta variant surging, chatter has emerged about those who received it seeking out boosters because they only feel "half-vaccinated". And earlier this week, the FDA issued a warning that the shot carries a small risk of a nerve syndrome.
At present, the CDC isn't recommending second doses or booster shots for those who got the J&J vaccine. That's because after a shot, the immune system gets to work to continue amping up its immunity to the virus, says Ramon Lorenzo Redondo, a molecular virologist at Northwestern University.
"The body takes some time to generate full immunity after vaccination," he says. "Studies show that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine prevents infection at least 14 days after vaccination and it is even better at preventing severe cases at least 28 days after vaccination. This basically means that the body takes approximately one month to generate the best levels of protection in response to the vaccine."
In other words, one dose still effectively kicks your body into gear to generate that crucial Covid immunity. And, according to new research from the company released earlier this month, that immunity appears to last for at least eight months and protect against variants of concern including delta. "A booster shot would be needed if a decay in protection levels after vaccination is observed and thus far, we have not detected this," he says.
Of course, if new variants emerge that can successful evade our current vaccines, a booster shot would come into play.
What is true is that clinical trials suggest J&J shot has a somewhat lower efficacy rate than the mRNA shots available in the U.S. But comparing those studies to one another is a little like comparing apples and oranges — and all of the vaccines are incredibly effective at preventing people from getting seriously ill with Covid-19. Regardless of what shot you got, the more people get vaccinated, the less the virus has opportunity to spread, making everyone less at risk. Still, scientists are currently evaluating whether mixing different kinds of shots might provide even better immunity. All of this continued study is key as the virus continues to spread and evolved.
For now, though, Betti, rest assured, your one-and-done shot is just fine. Thanks to all of you for writing in this week! Next Sunday, we'll be answering the best question we receive again. So if you have any, we want to hear from you. Write to us at CovidQs@bloomberg.net—Kristen V. Brown | 
⊙Ⓢ▽〖@HuLu~〗 2019 Justicia del ártico PelÃcula Completa En LÃnea released 2019. story: Swifty, el zorro ártico, trabaja en la sala de corre...
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