COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As many Americans eagerly await their chance to be vaccinated, we wanted to send another vaccine update. (If you missed our previous updates, visit the Better Health Advisors website to read 7 tips for getting a vaccine appointment and find out what we know about the vaccine’s effectiveness.)

Last night the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. This approval comes after the vaccine was deemed safe by a panel of experts that advised the FDA to approve it for emergency use. This will be the first approved COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. that requires only one dose.

By comparison to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine, the J&J vaccine has a less elaborate storage process, which means this vaccine can be given easily anywhere.  

According to J&J’s trial results:

• The J&J single-shot vaccine is:
• 72% effective in the U.S. and 66% effective overall at preventing symptomatic illness
• 100% effective at preventing hospitalization and death as of Day 28
• The J&J vaccine had:
• 0 report of severe allergic reactions after administration
• Milder side effects than the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said in a new interview, “Rather than parsing the difference between 94 and 72, accept the fact that now you have three highly effective vaccines. Period.”

The introduction of this COVID-19 vaccine will be vital to getting Americans vaccinated, and the single-dose shot will simplify the vaccine distribution process. All vaccines that are currently approved in the U.S. are safe and effective, and we do not recommend that you decline this vaccine to wait for a different one.

BHA recommends that you accept any vaccine that is available to you, as it will contribute to achieving herd immunity—and help all of us get back to a more normal way of life.

Note: BHA has been getting this question frequently, so we wanted to provide an answer:

Q: Does the COVID-19 vaccine prevent transmission?

A:  Experts do not believe the vaccine completely prevents person-to-person transmission of the virus, but the data so far suggests that vaccination results in a drastic reduction of COVID-19 transmission. Vaccination lowers your chances of getting infected and your viral load if infected.