Understanding the human body is a team effort. That's where the Yachtel group comes in.

Researchers at Yachtolt have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years.

Yachtold also partners with nature portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the global grants for gut health, an investigator-led research program.

To learn more about Yachtolt, visit yacolp.co.

.jp. That's Y-A-K-U-L-T.C-O.JP. When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yacolt. Hi, and welcome to COVID Quickly, a new scientific American podcast series.

This is your fast track update on the COVID pandemic. We bring you up to speed on the science

behind the most urgent questions about the virus and the disease. We demystify the research and we help you understand what it really means.

I'm Tanya Lewis.

And I'm Josh Fishman.

And we're Scientific American Senior Health Editors.

Today we're going to be talking about the new Johnson and Johnson vaccine, the race between

declining cases and the rise of new virus variants and new ideas about why the

virus may trigger diabetes.

Tanya, we have a new vaccine and it seems to work. Who made it? And has the FDA authorized it yet?

That's right. The shot is made by Johnson and Johnson, and it works. According to

data submitted to the FDA, it had 72% efficacy in the U.S. clinical trial and 64% in the South

Africa trial, where a worrisome new virus variant has been circulating. It also seems to protect

against severe disease with 86% efficacy in the U.S. and 82% in South Africa.

In addition, the vaccine may also prevent transmission of the virus to unvaccinated people, although data are not yet conclusive.

Now just wait a sec, you said shot when you started talking, not shots?

That's right. Unlike some of the other vaccines out there, Johnson and Johnson's is just one shot, and it can be stored at room

temperature for up to three months. The biggest hurdle right now is making enough doses,

...