LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A third vaccine may be on the way after tests around the world, including here in Kentucky.
Baptist Health Lexington was one of the locations where the vaccine was studied. Dr. David Dougherty helped lead the trial there.
“Overall, the effectiveness in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 was 66%,” he said. “In the US, it was 72%, overall including all of these sites, it was 85% percent effective in preventing severe COVID-19 on the 28th.”
He said the main objective of the trial was achieved.
“He showed complete protection against hospitalization and death, this is the biggest result of the study,” said Dougherty.
The efficacy rate of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is lower than that of Pfizer and Moderna.
“I don’t want people to wait to get a vaccine, to get Pfizer or Moderna if they have the Johnson and Johnson vaccine available, because we need as many people as possible to vaccinate,” said Dougherty.
He explained that this scene could make the launch easier.
“It can be stored easily, in a normal refrigerator temperature for at least three months, which means … you will have tons of vaccine sites that will be able to manage this,” he said.
This vaccine requires a single dose.
“You don’t have to reschedule for someone to come back, worry about giving the wrong vaccine when he comes back, you can vaccinate twice as many people,” said Dougherty.
He said that of the 243 participants in the clinical trial at Baptist Health Lexington, many had minimal or no side effects.
“Many people were surprised by the vaccine,” he said. “The reactions were so mild and not very serious.”
Dr. Dougherty said that Johnson and Johnson is also researching a possible second dose of his vaccine. He said the hope is that it would increase immunity even more.
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