The first part of the following essay was adapted from an article by Jonathan Corum and Carl Zimmer that appeared in The New York Times on February 24, 2021. All diagrams as well as the text were modified for the purpose of this essay.
Johnson & Johnson is testing a COVID-19 vaccine known as JNJ-78436735 (also known as .COV2.S ). It is a single dose vaccine exhibiting an efficacy rate of up to 72 percent. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is covered with protein spikes which it uses to enter body cells. Fortunately, these “daggers of danger” also can be used against the virus since they can be used as targets for potential vaccines.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses the virus’s genetic blueprint for building the spike protein. But the Johnson & Johnson vaccine stores instructions in DNA, not RNA which because it is double stranded is more stable. The DNA (gene) for the coronavirus spike protein is inserted into another virus belonging to the group of adenoviruses; in this case adenovirus 26 which has been modified so it can enter cells but can’t replicate or cause illness.
As pointed out above, the adenovirus based vaccines are more rugged than mRNA vaccines plus the tough outer coat of the adenovirus helps to further protect
the DNA inside. That explains why the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be stored for up to three months at 36-46°F (2-8°C). Upon injection the viruses bump into cells and latch onto proteins on their surface. The cells engulf the virus by phagocytosis and eventually enters the nucleus where the gene for the COVD-19 spike protein can be read by the cell and copied into an mRNA molecule.
Next the mRNA leaves the nucleus having done its job and the cells begin assembling spike proteins.
Immune cells, B cells, may bump into the COVID spikes or free-floating fragments and lock onto the spike portions and begin to pour the antibodies that target spike proteins preventing spikes from attaching to other cells. If these B cells are then activated by helper T cells, they will start to proliferate and pour out antibodies that target the spike protein.
Some of the spike proteins form spikes that migrate to the cells’ surface protruding the spikes through the surface which can then be read by the body’s immune system. Furthermore, the adenovirus initiates the cells’ alarm to activate nearby cells’ response. As vaccinated cells die, (as all cells do; we lose millions of cells every day) the spike proteins and protein fragments can be assimilated by special cells that help raise the alarm.
The antibodies can attach to the spikes, tag the virus for destruction, and prevent infection by blocking the spikes from attaching to other cells.
Other immune cells, T cells that have been activated in the process, can also destroy the spike protein fragments as well.
According to Johnson & Johnson, their one-shot vaccine provides good protection against COVID-19. Admittedly, it might not be as effective or last as long as Pfizer or Moderna’s two dose formulas and was significantly weaker against the South African mutated version but it may provide an acceptable alternative and from a scientific point of view, a good model for comparison (Please note, and this is significant, the word mutated. Yes this is evolution at work for those doubters of science, especially those distrustful of the word evolution).
Johnson & Johnson has a lofty goal of providing 200 million doses to the US by June and a billion doses worldwide by the end of 2021. As of January 30, 23 million Americans had received the first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine a couple weeks ago and will receive the second on March 13 (a pre-birthday gift). As per-expectation, I suffered no ill effects However, the consensus is that the Pfizer vaccine, generally speaking, does produce milder side effects and the second shot for both kinds is more of a killer. I asked the nurse who administered mine if she was aware if anyone in Boone County (population about 53,ooo) had had any serious side effects so far and her answer was “no”. The following table summarizes the test results.
0verall
Effectiveness US Latin America South Africa 66%* 72% 66% 57%
85%**
*Preventing moderate to severe symptoms
**Preventing most severe symptoms
Here comes perhaps the most important part of this essay. The experts say the more the virus is allowed to spread, the more opportunities it has to mutate. (Neergaard, and Johnson) PROVEN DOCUMENTED, SCIENTIFIC FACT, NOT SOME WHACKY SCIENTIST’S CONSTRUCT, HYPOTHESIS, THEORY, ETC. This is true for most pathogens and has been known for a long,long time and THE MORE IT MUTATES THE HARDER IT IS TO ERADICATE. And how do we prevent it from spreading:
BY WEARING MASKS, BY PRACTICING SOCIAL DISTANCING, AND BY GETTING THE VACCINE, ESPECIALLY BY BEING VACCINATED. ENOUGH SAID!!!!
A major concern is that the variants appear to spread more easily and that they are more resistant to the vaccines. Furthermore, they may undermine tests for the virus as well as reduce the effects of some treatments. Researchers are really concerned about variants from South Africa and the United Kingdom. (Liu and Stobbe)
Will COVID-19 become endemic?
Recently Dr. Fauci dismissed the idea that it would be eradicated in a few to several years. Here are some definitions /descriptions of the word endemic:
- Spreads at a baseline level every year without causing major disruption to people’s lives.
- Constant and/or usual prevalence of a disease within a population in a certain geographic area.
- Is present for long periods of time without interruption, continuously circulating in the population like the common cold.
- A sudden increase of a disease above what is normally expected among the population in a certain area.
And finally:
5. A disease can be endemic in one country, an outbreak in another country, and an epidemic in another country.
What are some endemic diseases?
The four common cold viruses are endemic in most parts of the world. Many childhood diseases are endemic such as measles, and backing up to epidemics, not all epidemics are caused by pathogens. Diabetes, obesity, and drug addiction can become epidemics. (Rodrigues)
Doses Available — Doses Needed
The title of one large article I am looking at now says “Poll: A third of US adults skeptical of COVID shots. The Associated Press Hope Center for Public Affairs Research conducted the poll so I assume it is fairly accurate and reliable! It found that 15% of Americans surveyed are sure they won’t get vaccinated and 17% probably won’t. Reason for not range from doubts about the safety of the vaccine to their effectiveness, worries of side effects, to the speed of development to mistrust of the government. (Stobbe and Fingerhut) (As my ENT doctor told me the other day how many of those people would go.to the beach without sunscreen protection or the North woods without insect repellant on. To bring it down to a very personal level after receiving my first shot I realized that people with thrombocytopenia run a risk of severe repercussions and at least one person died almost immediately I’ll let the reader figure that word out. Got a good dictionary? But who’s to say what effect, if any, it had on his death. A quick check with my hematologist put my mind at ease by being told that the risk posed, by not getting the vaccine was far greater than the risk of it’s serious side effects. I received my second vaccine last Saturday with absolutely no side effects, not even a sore arm.
Incidentally, the picture at the top of the essay is of one of the new variants.
References
Liu, M. and M. Stobbe, Jan. 29, 2021, Virus variant from South Africa detected in US for 1st time, Rockford Register Star, published in Milwaukee, WI
Neergaard, L. and L, Johnson, Jan. 30, 2021, One shot vaccine proves effective, Rockford Register Star, published in Milwaukee, WI
Rodrigues, A.Feb. 18, 2021, Officials say coronavirus will likely become endemic, Rockford Register Star, published in Milwaukee, WI
Stobe, M. and H. Fingerhut, Feb. 11, 2021, Rockford Register Star, published in Milwaukee, WI
PS It’s been a tough two months but we are slowly getting used to the quietness of the house, the change in routine, coming home to an empty house, etc. We have ashes to bury under the pines of the front berm near Buster and Bandit (“little nose & big nose”) when the frost is out of the ground. Spring outside work & golf will be good therapy for me.