Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine

All COVID-19 vaccines authorized in Canada are proven safe, effective and of high quality.

Name: Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

Manufacturer: Janssen Inc

Type: Viral vector-based

Status: Approved by Health Canada

Approved for: Age 18 and older

How it's given: Injection in muscle (usually the upper arm)

Number of doses: 1 dose

Who the vaccine is approved for

The vaccine is approved for people who are 18 years of age and older. Its safety and effectiveness in people younger than 18 years of age have not yet been established.

Effectiveness

Clinical trials showed that beginning 2 weeks after the single dose, the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was 66% effective in protecting trial participants against COVID-19.

Dosage

This vaccine requires a single dose.

Vaccine ingredients

Medicinal ingredient

adenovirus vector vaccine

Other ingredients

2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBCD)
citric acid monohydrate
ethanol
hydrochloric acid
polysorbate 80
sodium chloride
sodium hydroxide
trisodium citrate dihydrate
water for injection

Possible side effects

After getting vaccinated, it's common to have temporary side effects. These can last a few hours to a few days after vaccination.

This is the body's natural response, as it's working hard to build protection against the disease.

Common vaccine side effects may include:

Symptoms at the injection site, such as:	Flu-like symptoms, such as:
redness soreness swelling	chills fatigue joint pain headache mild fever muscle aches

A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is also rare. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis may include:

hives (bumps on the skin that are often very itchy)
swelling of the lips, face, tongue or airway
difficulty breathing
increased heart rate
loss of consciousness
sudden low blood pressure
abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea

Call emergency services if you develop or witness any serious symptoms that could be an allergic reaction after vaccination.

Talk to your doctor about any serious allergies or health conditions you may have before you get a vaccine.

This vaccine does not contain common food allergens, such as eggs, shellfish, gluten or nuts.

Rare vaccine side effects

Some rare reactions that have been reported and confirmed after taking a viral vector vaccine are:

Talk to your health care provider about which vaccine is recommended for you. They will take into consideration your risk of:

exposure to COVID-19
more severe disease or outcomes if you get COVID-19

Reporting a possible side effect or serious reaction

Contact your health care provider if you experience:

a side effect following vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine
any persistent, new or worsening symptoms

Health care providers must report possible reactions following vaccination to their local public health authority. The public health authority then reports them to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Reported allergic reactions and side effects to COVID-19 vaccines are published weekly in our Reported side effects following COVID-19 vaccination report.

Vaccine review, approval and monitoring

Health Canada's independent drug review and approval process is recognized around the world for its high standards and rigor. Our decisions are based only on scientific and medical evidence showing that vaccines are safe and effective. The benefits must also outweigh any risks.

Find detailed technical information such as the product monograph and the regulatory decision summary:

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine regulatory information

As COVID-19 vaccines are administered across Canada, our safety monitoring is ongoing. The Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, and provincial and territorial health authorities continue to:

monitor the use of all COVID-19 vaccines closely
examine and assess any new safety concerns

Learn about the side effects we're currently monitoring.

Get vaccinated

How to get vaccinated near you

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