COVID-19 Vaccines in the U.S. and their Efficacy Against New Strains

As the coronavirus continues to plague the United States, professionals work tirelessly to produce safe and effective immunizations. Currently, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved and are being distributed. As expected, demand is quite high. Globally, Novavax are working independently to release approved vaccines to the public.

Johnson & Johnson developed a single-dose vaccine which has been granted FDA approval as of Feb. 27. The massive enterprise claims their vaccine to be up to 72% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 cases, yet efficacy has dropped to only 57% in South Africa, where the new coronavirus variant is heavily predominant. Importantly, Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health has pointed out that the J&J vaccine was tested under different circumstances than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Furthermore, little disparity is shown between the three vaccines in preventing hospitalizations and death.

In light of recent news regarding additional strains of coronavirus reaching our shores, many have questioned the efficacy of the vaccines being (or soon to be) distributed. Though it may seem too soon to tell, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, says otherwise. Fauci has noted that the authorized vaccines may indeed be less effective in preventing the new B.1.351 variant, though efficacy is still provided “well within the cushion of protection.”

As for the vaccine being developed by Novavax, trials began shortly before the new year. So far, data has been released proving the vaccine to be almost 90% effective. Amazingly, Novavax is the first company to “demonstrate clinical efficacy against COVID-19 and both UK and South Africa variants.” The Novavax vaccine was rapidly trialed and has started the review process with regulatory agencies internationally.

One of the details that sets the Johnson & Johnson and Novavax vaccines apart from previously released vaccines is that they are not mRNA based. The J&J vaccine is developed via “a harmless adenovirus […] has been engineered to carry the genetic code for the SARS-2 spike protein.” The Novavax vaccine is also protein-based and is made from “a stabilized form of the coronavirus spike protein.” Despite being developed in different ways, all released vaccines have provoked similar side effects such as injection site pain, headaches and fatigue.

As such, there are multiple vaccines that are proven effective and have been released or are currently in the final stages of testing and review. Aside from that, the overarching message being consistently repeated by medical professionals globally is that we are implored to continue to wear masks and remain socially distant and are encouraged to get the vaccine when possible in order to obtain herd immunity. Although it is at times hard to remain hopeful, there seems to be an increasing possibility that normal life may at least partially resume by the end of the year.

Article by Sophia Wolf of Bethesda Chevy Chase High School

Graphic by Ha-tien Nguyen of Winston Churchill High School