Question—”I hate shots and most COVID vaccines require two separate injections. I’ve heard there will soon be a new vaccine that needs only a single shot. I’m healthy, just 27 but I work at a nursing home.”
Answer—In general I recommend my patients take any vaccine that they are offered. The single shot is from Johnson and Johnson and they recently filed for emergency use from the FDA. If authorized it may be available by the Spring. It is a viral vector vaccine produced by introducing a bit of genetic material into a mild adenovirus shell. Not only does it require only one shot, and can be stored under routine refrigeration. This is a huge benefit for rural areas that do not have access to the very low temperature refrigeration that other COVID vaccines require. Additionally, the single shot means that 50 million doses can protect 50 million people. The same number of doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID vaccines will only protect 25 million. That’s the good news. The bad news? The single shot vaccine is not as effective as two injections of the mRNA vaccines. In clinical trials, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is 66% effective in preventing disease and has 85% efficiency in preventing severe disease. By contrast the double shot vaccines are 95% effective in preventing COVID. But at a time when, worldwide, billions people want and need protection from COVID, the single shot option can extend community immunization.
At 27, you are pretty far down on any list for a vaccine, but the residents at the nursing home are vulnerable. If a double shot is a deal breaker for you, take the single shot when it is available. Be certain to continue to wear a well fitting mask over both your nose and mouth and practice social distancing outside of work. The single shot vaccine will offer a degree of protection, but you will still need to avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID.
