Analysis Paralysis
Analysis Paralysis
With the recent emergency use authorization of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by the FDA, we now have three COVID-19 vaccines available in the US. This is great news as it is another weapon we can use in the fight to limit the spread of COVID. However, in our current social climate where conspiracies and misinformation are seemingly at the forefront of everything, people are increasingly skeptical about receiving these vaccines.
I was talking with my mom this past week and this topic about COVID-19 vaccines came up. My grandma was recently able to receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine and I was curious if she experienced any side effects as that was a concern of hers. Fortunately, she only had some soreness which was not nearly as bad as her past shingles shot. According to the clinical trials, the Moderna vaccine is reported to be about 94% effective at preventing COVID-19; similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech one with about 95% efficacy. My mom is eagerly waiting for March 22 to arrive so that she can be eligible to receive her own Pfizer/Moderna vaccine, but was hesitant about potentially accepting the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to its lower reported efficacy at about 72% in the US.
I want to discuss this issue because people are already being caught up in the numbers and the perceived inferiority of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. As the availability of all vaccines increases for the general public, people may intentionally opt out of receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in favor of a Pfizer/Moderna one. However, looking closer at the clinical trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was about 85% effective at preventing severe COVID-19, no one after 28 days post-vaccination required medical intervention, and perhaps most importantly, no one died due to COVID-19 who received the vaccine.
Pushing back against this notion of inferiority is also important considering the logistical benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is cheaper, only needs one dose, and can be stored in regular refrigerators - making it an ideal candidate for mass inoculation. Yet, even though it increases availability for those in rural areas or less-developed countries, the perception of inequality can be a deterrent. I believe that it is vital that these drug companies, the government, and we as healthcare professionals work together with community leaders to interpret vaccine data and to provide access to all of the vaccines to as many people as possible. When I took the time to explain and provide more information about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to my mom, she was much more understanding and willing to take it if the opportunity arises. It certainly can be difficult to take the time and energy to sit down with others and really dig into what their concerns are, especially in our divisive society. Ultimately, I feel that that is exactly what is necessary if we are going to have a chance at withstanding this pandemic.
https://www.fda.gov/media/146219/download#page=96
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