Sangamon Sun

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital issued the following announcement on Mar. 27. 

A third vaccine – developed and manufactured by the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson – is now available to the public along with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

While there are similarities among the three vaccines, there are key differences.

• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose.
• The protection rate against moderate to severe COVID-19 is 66 percent while it is 85 percent effective against severe disease.
• The Johnson & Johnson vaccine does not have to be kept as cold as Pfizer or Moderna vaccines and can even be kept at normal refrigerator temperatures for up to three months.

In the short term, as supply of vaccine continues to be limited, people will not have the opportunity to select which type of COVID-19 vaccine they prefer.

“Our goal needs to be getting as many shots in arms as possible, as quickly as possible,” said Raj Govindaiah, chief medical officer of Memorial Health System. “If you have the opportunity to be vaccinated, please do so. All three of these vaccines offer very significant protection against COVID-19 illness and will help us put an end to the pandemic.”

Original source can be found here.

Source: Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital