Individuals who received Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as a first jab were found to exhibit a stronger immune response when boosted with Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine in a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health.

This preliminary study poses a challenge to J&J’s efforts to use its vaccine as a booster in the United States. The study included over 450 adult individuals who received initial jabs from Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines and revealed that mixing and matching booster shots of various types is safe in adults. Mixing and matching doses for a booster led to similar side effects to those seen in primary vaccinations and were not associated with any significant safety concerns.

Using different types of vaccines as boosters was found to yield a comparable or higher antibody response compared to using the same type… (Reuters, October 14, 2021)