DELAND, Fla. – Johnson & Johnson wants the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to approve its coronavirus booster shot.
The company announced Tuesday it has filed a request for emergency use authorization for people who received the single-dose vaccine.
Company officials said data shows a second dose boosts immunity to 94 percent when given two months after the first shot.
Data released by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention showed a gradual supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine shots have been administered in Florida.
As of Sept. 14, there has been an increase of more than 100,000 doses of the vaccine in the state.
The Medical Director of Accel Clinical Research in DeLand Dr. Bruce Rankin oversaw some of the trials of the Johnson & Johnson booster shot.
When can we expect to see J&J booster shots in arms?
Rankin: “I think it’ll happen pretty quickly once the FDA advisory committee meets, so it could be happening within weeks.”
In terms of coverage, what will the efficacy of the J&J booster be?
Rankin: “We can see that efficacy jump up all the way to 94%, similar to some of the other vaccines we have available.”
How effective is the J&J booster against the Delta variant, which remains prevalent?
Rankin: “I think it’s doing great against the Delta variant, a lot of our trials have gone on through the Delta variant.”
What type of symptoms can people expect to see with the J&J booster shot?
Rankin: “I think it’s gonna be the same as you had with the original vaccine; you know, it’s an individual thing of how people’s immune systems respond to these. From no reaction at all, which we have, that’s probably the majority, to having that mild tenderness at the injection site, low-grade fever, feeling some fatigue over 24 to 48 hours.”
News 6 also talked to Dr. Jonathan Schwartzman with AdventHealth Centra Care, he said people should be patient for their approved booster shot.
“It’s uncharted territory, so I would have to go with with the CDC recommends in those situations, right now, cross-vaccinating is not recommended,” he said.