Is It Safe to Get 1 COVID-19 Vaccine Now and Another Later?

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Experts say even if you get a less-effective COVID-19 vaccine now, getting a different, more effective vaccine in the future should be perfectly safe. Luis Alvarez / Getty Images
  • Johnson & Johnson has announced its application with the FDA to obtain an EUA for its COVID-19 vaccine.
  • While this would help get the population vaccinated more quickly, there’s concern the company’s vaccine is not as effective as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
  • Experts say there may not be a choice over which vaccine to choose until vaccine production can match population needs.
  • However, more effective vaccines will become available at a later time.
  • Experts emphasize that all three vaccines are safe and will help control the pandemic.

Johnson & Johnson announced on Feb. 4 that it had applied with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

The company said it would be able to give the vaccine to the U.S. government immediately upon FDA approval.

Also, it expects to be able to supply 100 million doses in the first half of 2021.

However, one potential drawback to the new vaccine is that it may be less effective than the other two vaccines, Moderna and Pfizer, which have an EUA.

Though more vaccines would make it easier to vaccinate more people quickly, questions center on whether recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would be able to get a more effective vaccine later.

Source: healthline