Epidemiologist Urges People To Take Whichever COVID Vaccine They're Offered

Moderna Vaccine — A subject receives a shot in the first-stage safety study clinical trial of a potential vaccine by Moderna for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

Arun Rath hosts the local broadcast of GBH’s All Things Considered.

Amanda Beland was the lead producer of WGBH News' In It Together, and an associate producer with WGBH News' All Things Considered until 2021.

March 04, 2021

Updated August 09, 2023

Excitement is brewing over a single-shot coronavirus vaccine by Johnson & Johnson that was authorized for emergency use late last month. Officials say that single-shot formula could make it easier and faster to inoculate harder hit communities.

But the vaccine's efficacy is stirring up questions on how well those who get it will be protected against the virus compared with the other two approved vaccines.

A multi-country study showed that the J&J vaccine is 66% effective against moderate to severe COVID-19 infection and 85% effective again severe disease. This is compared to an over 95% efficacy rate for the other two approved coronavirus vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna.

But Dr. Cassandra Pierre, who directs public health programs at Boston Medical Center, said we can't compare the efficacy of the J&J vaccine to the others because the studies were completed with different groups of people, at different times in the pandemic and in completely different places. She said people should get any of the three vaccines when they become eligible.

"My advice would be please do not treat selection of these vaccines like a lifestyle choice," Pierre said. "Many communities are struggling with insufficient access to vaccines in general. And many people would love to take any vaccine available at this point. That being said, these vaccines are all really great for the outcomes that we care about, which is protection against hospitalization, death and severe disease. They all work wonderfully for prevention of these outcomes ... please do not delay getting a vaccine when you are eligible and when it is available to you, because this really is a race against time at this point."

We also heard from Dr. Eduardo Haddad, the chief of medical affairs at Lawrence General Hospital, about how the hospital, in partnership with the city and a regional community health center, is working hard to vaccinate city residents.

Click on the audio player above to listen to the full episode.

Segments:

Dr. Cassandra Pierre - 2:30
Dr. Eduardo Haddad - 15:04