J&J claims vaccine booster shot increased antibodies in early-stage trials

New Jersey: The Johnson and Johnson (J&J) company claimed that a booster shot of their Covid-19 vaccine increases antibody levels sharply, citing interim data from two early-stage trials, reports Al Jazeera.

In a press release on Wednesday, the company said that the second dose of their vaccine resulted in binding antibody levels nine times higher than the first dose, taken 28 days earlier.

While neutralising antibodies destroy the virus, binding antibodies attach to the virus. Still, they do not destroy it or prevent infection but alert the immune system of its presence, and the white blood cells would be sent to destroy it.

J&J said that the studies showed significant increases in the binding antibody response in subjects aged 18-55. Also, in 65 years and older who received a lower booster dose.

The booster data has arrived before the J&J vaccine's long-awaited two-dose vaccine trial results. J&J spokesman informed that the result would be available in weeks.

J&J release the new information as many countries plans to provide the third shot of other vaccines for the immunocompromised as Delta variant is still at high and breakthrough infections are also detected.

Earlier, there had been no evidence about the effect of a booster of the J&J vaccine, and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been waiting for how-to advice immunocompromised individuals who received the vaccine.

In July, J&J released data published in New England Journal, showing that neutralising antibodies generated by is vaccine remained stable eight months after the first dose.

The head of research and development at J&J's Hanssen pharma division, Mathai Mammen, said that the company is looking forward to discussing a potential vaccine strategy with the public health officials, boosting eight months or longer after the primary single-dose.

Meanwhile, several scientists have raised concerns that individuals who got the J&J shot would need boosters. Also, a study done by New York University had shown that a generous amount of blood samples collected from recipients of the vaccine had low neutralising antibodies against Delta and other variants.