J&J Says Its COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Promise Against Delta Variant

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said its COVID-19 single-shot vaccine generated a strong and persistent immune response against the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which the World Health Organization has warned could soon become the dominant strain of the coronavirus worldwide.

J&J said blood analysis from a small cohort of eight study participants indicated that immune responses against the Delta variant, which was first identified in India, were higher than those seen against the Beta variant first identified in South Africa.

And data from a separate study in 20 participants showed that the J&J vaccine generated strong and persistent immune activity against variants, including the Delta strain, lasting at least eight months, the company said.