At the end of Part 2 of this series, I promised to discuss some thoughts from vaccine researchers and other experts in the field of immunology about this form of inoculation. Due to current events, I need to interject first with comments on research I have done concerning the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine, also known as the Janssen Vaccine.
One of three vaccines approved for emergency use in the U.S., its distribution was recently paused. The J&J vaccine differs from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in that it is not an mRNA-based vaccine.
WHY J&J's IS DIFFERENT
Administered in a single dose, the J&J vaccine actually uses the DNA of the spike protein of the Covid-19 virus that is synthesized from a different coronavirus. Multiple spike proteins are imbedded on this coronavirus in order to stimulate the cells in the body to produce proteins that will ultimately produce antibodies.
The DNA material from the spike protein on this form of synthesized coronavirus enters the nucleus of the host (the person receiving this J&J vaccine) and produces mRNA particles that are foreign to the host cell. The synthetically produced mRNA then migrates out of the nucleus of the cell into the cytoplasm where it begins making the proteins that will stimulate an antibody reaction.
Unfortunately, from my clinical experience in my office, I have to say that the adverse events reported by my patients to the J&J DNA-based vaccine have been more severe than what I had seen with the previously discussed mRNA-based vaccines.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
A lot has taken place since I had first written this part of the series a couple of weeks ago. At the time, Germany had suspended the use of the J&J vaccine due to seven deaths of individuals who received the vaccine. The reason for the deaths in Germany was determined to be due to venous blood clots that formed in the individuals’ brains. This essentially caused a stroke.
I was also notified around that time that a state prison in our area where my acquaintance worked had also suspended the use of the J&J vaccine after the death of an inmate who received it.
Since my initial research and writing on this subject, the J&J vaccine was pulled from the U.S. market “temporarily.” It was put back into distribution in this past week.
Although, the following information is arguably anecdotal and third party, I also learned of another death that could be related to the J&J vaccine from a patient. The departed had received the J&J vaccine on a Friday, and on Monday died of a stroke. Since this was proximate to his receiving the vaccine, I informed my patient that the incident should be reported as a potential adverse reaction to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). This is a federal agency that is overseen by both the FDA and the CDC. It is the body which monitors all adverse reactions to any drug including vaccines.
Unfortunately, reporting and proving are two different things. In order to gain restitution for injury or death due to an apparent adverse reaction involving a vaccine, the affected parties must have their case heard by the “Vaccine Court.” The Vaccine Court is an entity that was set up by the federal government here in the United States after intense lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry. In 1988, the government started the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (a.k.a. the Vaccine Court). This entity took all liability for any adverse injury or death off of the shoulders of the pharmaceutical industry and made it solely the responsibility of the federal government, and thus, the American taxpayers.
COMING UP...
The Vaccine Court topic obviously is a separate story, one that I may write about in the future. For now, however, I will focus on the phrase “herd immunity,” which I will feature in Part 4 of this series, due out May 16.
Until then, thank you for reading and for considering the viewpoint of a healthcare professional who seeks answers with a focus on the body’s ability to heal.