Some people fully vaccinated with Sputnik V can get J&J as booster dose

Some people who have been fully vaccinated with the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine can receive the single-dose Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine as a booster dose, according to the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony.

The Health Minister highlighted this on Monday during his daily COVID-19 update. His statement comes days after he related that the local health authorities have decided to provide booster doses to people over 50 years old and to anyone who has underlying medical conditions (comorbidities) and is aged 18 years or older.

On Monday, he also explained that all health workers aged 18 years and older, as well as other workers who may be at high risk of becoming infected with COVID-19, are eligible for the booster doses.

Importantly, Dr. Anthony highlighted that those people who received both doses of the Sputnik V vaccine can receive the J&J vaccine as a booster.

While Dr. Anthony noted that receiving the booster doses is meant to boost an individual’s protection against COVID-19, receiving this J&J booster shot means that people would be able to travel abroad more freely.

This is because the J&J vaccine has been authorised for emergency use by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Sputnik V is still pending WHO approval.

This would, therefore, allow more people to travel to the United States of America (USA), Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and other countries that have not been accepting international travellers who are vaccinated with those vaccines not yet approved by the WHO.

Additionally, for those who received both doses of the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines, a Pfizer vaccine can also be taken as the booster shot (which would be a third dose). Meanwhile, those who took both doses of the Sinopharm vaccines can receive a third Sinopharm dose.

People can take a booster shot six months after being administered both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive the booster shot after 52 days.

The rollout of the booster doses, Dr. Anthony said, started on Monday. These booster shots are being administered to boost the protection that individuals would have gotten from the vaccines that they took.