While New Jerseyans look near and far for a coveted COVID-19 vaccine, some are wondering whether they can choose between the Moderna dose or Pfizer, the two types of vaccine available today.
The short answer is no.
“Currently, there is no way for a person to choose which vaccine to receive,” said Donna Leusner, director of communication for the state health department. “The state does not recommend one vaccine over another.”
There are more than 200 locations that offer the vaccine in NJ. Some are administered by the state, county or municipality, others are administered by hospitals, pharmacies or medical groups. Most vaccination sites offer either type. But the good news is that studies show that there does not seem to be a tangible difference between the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which reported an overall effectiveness of 94 to 95%.
However, some websites inform you which vaccine you will receive, giving you the option to withdraw if, for whatever reason, you do not want that specific vaccine. But with demand far outstripping supply and scarce or non-existent appointments, this may not be an option that many wish to take and experts say there is no reason to make a choice anyway.
Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist and professor at Montclair State, agrees that both vaccines are equally effective and that residents should not prefer one another.
“The vaccine’s effectiveness now for Pfizer and Moderna is quite similar,” said Silvera. “And so, at this point, the goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible. There is not much difference between the two. “
The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require two injections: an initial dose, followed by a booster injection. The interval between doses of Moderna is 28 days; for the Pfizer vaccine, it’s 21 days.
It is too early to say whether people will have more options, as other vaccines will be available in the coming weeks. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine may receive emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in late February. The advantage of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is that it requires only one dose and does not have the cold storage requirements of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. However, it has a lower efficacy rate, with 72% protection against moderate to severe COVID in the USA and 85% protection against serious illness.
Vaccine delivery remains delayed in New Jersey and across the country, as demand far outstrips supply. But Johnson & Johnson hopes to supply the United States with 100 million doses by April, the agency told CNBC last month.
“Until we know the recommendations for using the J&J vaccine, we don’t know how it will change things,” said Leusner. “We know that as soon as it becomes available, we will have more vaccines to administer.”
Silvera added that if the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is approved later this month, she would advise the elderly or those in high-risk categories to look for the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, if possible.
“My recommendation would be that for people who are in these higher risk categories, if it is possible to get Moderna and Pfizer, which are most effective against serious illnesses, that would be ideal,” said Silvera. “And for people who are less likely or not to fall into these high-risk categories of hospitalization, death or serious illness, Johnson & Johnson will likely be sufficient.”
But Silvera made a final observation: any vaccine is better than no vaccine.
“At this point, if you are lucky enough to get an appointment, you should go,” she said.
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