In a new study from Leiden University Medical Center, researchers found a coronavirus booster shot provides a better immune response against COVID-19 than a single vaccine dose.
They also found mRNA boosters are the most effective upon receiving Janssen.
With new coronavirus variants circulating and immunity decreasing, the best way to boost the immune system after a single Janssen vaccination is with the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.
This is compared with a second Janssen dose or no booster at all.
In the study, healthcare workers from various academic hospitals who had received a single dose of the Janssen vaccine in the spring of 2021 were invited to take part in the study.
The participants were randomly assigned a Janssen, Moderna or Pfizer booster or no booster.
The researchers looked at the effects of booster vaccines in two particular areas of the immune system: antibodies and immune cells.
An increase in both was observed upon receiving a booster shot with Janssen, Moderna or Pfizer. However, the increase was greater with Moderna and Pfizer than with the Janssen vaccine.
Janssen was the only shot approved for single-dose administration and protected 85.4% of vaccinated people against severe COVID-19 after 28 days.
Although this level of protection was acceptable, antibody levels after one dose of Janssen were lower than after two doses of an mRNA vaccine.
The team says with the emergence of coronavirus variants, it is important that it is now clear that an additional vaccine works well after one shot of Janssen.
Future research will demonstrate the added value of boosters against severe disease.
The researchers note that discussions about the need for booster shots should take into account the target group, the circulation of variants and the global inequality in access to vaccines.
A booster with an available vaccine is better than no booster at all.
If you care about Covid, please read studies about what you need to know about Omicron and COVID boosters, and COVID-19 booster can prevent Delta effectively.
For more information about health, please see recent studies that omicron could be neutralized by a booster dose, and results showing this low-cost drug can treat COVID-19 effectively and safely.
The study is published in the New England Journal of Medicine. One author of the study is Leo Visser.
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