NEW: [Thread] 1. #JnJ 2day announced (via a press release: bit.ly/3AFFCu0): 1. JnJ's #COVID19 jab = more effective when given as a double shot, 56 days - 6 mnths apart (vs. just 1 shot) 2. The efficacy of 1 shot doesn't wane, but a booster shot makes it more effective.
2. When a 2nd #JnJ shot is given 56 days after the 1st one, the 2-dose combo provides:
* 100% protection @ severe #COVID19 14 days after the 2nd shot
* 75% protection @ symptomatic (moderate to severe/critical) COVID19 in the countries where the jab was tested
3. When a 2nd/booster shot of the #JnJ#COVID19 jab was given 56 days after the first shot, trial participants' antibody levels rose to 4-6x times higher than after just one shot.
4. But when a 2nd/booster shot was given 6 months after the 1st shot, antibody levels increased even more than when it was given 56 days apart:
* 56 days interval: 4-6-fold increase in antibodies
* 6 months interval: 12-fold increase in antibodies (4 weeks after the 2nd shot)
A JnJ preprint study, using real-life data (claims from an insurance company) to analyse the efficacy of 1 dose shows:
* 81% effectiveness @ #COVID hospitalisations
* 79% effectiveness @ #COVID19 infection
6. What does this all mean? Statnews says:
"The data appears to set the stage for a discussion over whether the #JnJ vaccine should be thought of as a 2-dose regimen, with the doses given 6 months apart."
7. But for #JnJ to be considered as 2 doses, A LOT more needs to happen:
* Regulators such as the FDA need to convene open meetings
* Much more detailed data will need to be made public/published (and peer reviewed)
8. So what now? #JnJ says it has/will submit data to:
* The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulators
* The WHO and National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups
9. What will happen in SA? We will continue to use one dose of #JnJ until data has been submitted to Sahpra (our regulator) and reviewed by the body. If Sahpra approves the data, the health dpt can then decide if two doses are necessary or not.
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1. The aim of vaccination certificates = not to punish people, but to protect each other 2. Vaccination certificates will allow SA to introduce policies to open up more activities, e.g. larger sports events, for vaccinated people
2. #Phaahla: Vaccination certificates will allow vaccinated people more access to activities than unvaccinated people. But it won't deprive unvaccinated people from accessing essential services, e.g. health clinics. You won't need certificates to access such services.
3. How will vaccination certificates be accessed? #Phaahla: 1. A link from which you can download your certificate will be sent to your phone (you can only download it if you have a smart phone) 2. Your vaccination site will be able to print you a certificate
[Thread] 1. #Phaahla: Vaccinations of people below 18: 1. #Pfizer has been approved for use on people of 12+ 2. SA, for the next month or two, will remain focused on vaccinating people of 18+ (higher risk people) 3. Main priority = 50+ (most vulnerable) before our 4th wave
2. #Phaahla: 1. We're not ignoring the fact that #Pfizer has been approved for use by people below 18 yrs + schools want learners vaccinated 2. We're hoping by the end of Oct we will have covered enough adults to then review our policy + consider vaccinating people of below 18
3. #Phaahla: 1. @healthza believes it will be irresponsible to "start running around" vaccinating teenagers before we haven't reached enough adults (high risk group) 2. Goal = to have 50% of people of 50+ vaccinated first (currently = at 30%).
[Thread] 1. #Phaahla: SA's 3rd #COVID19 wave has been considerably longer than other waves: 1. First wave = 87 days 2. Second wave = 95 days 3. Third wave (so far) = 120 days
2. #Phaahla: When compared to the previous 7 days, overall new #COVID19 cases are down by 35%. The positivity rate (the % of tests that come out +) is down by 9.5% to an average + rate of 9.3%. That brings us closer to the WHO's recommend, "safer" +rate of 5%.
3. #Phaahla: Active #COVID19 cases are going down. The WC and KZN still have the highest numbers of active cases, but they're slowly coming down.
4 June – 300,000 (short expiry)
21 June – 1,253,600 (short expiry)
26 July – 1,454,400
9 August – 619,200
6 September – 1,413,600
13 September – 1,360,800
TOTAL – 6,401,600
2. How many doses does #JnJ still owe us?
We procured 31.2 million doses, so:
31,200,000 - 6,401,600 = 24,798,400
* It's real life data from between
- April 4 and June 19
- June 20 - July 17
* They looked at data from 13 US states
* Jabs that fully vaccinated people received = Pfizer/Moderna (92%), JnJ (8%)
3. What did the #DeltaVariant do to the protection #COVID vaccines offer @ infection?
It reduced vaccines' protection @ infection from 91% to 78%.