Open the tool box
WE’RE GOING to need a bigger tool box. Finally, after all the horrific news that filled January on the virus front, maybe there’s some room for hope. More vaccines are coming, and hospitalizations are down in the Natural State.
The newest kid on the block in vaccine terms has two of the same name: Mr. Johnson & Johnson. Here’s more from the papers:
“Johnson & Johnson’s long-awaited vaccine appears to protect against covid-19 with just one shot– not as strong as some twoshot rivals but still potentially helpful for a world in dire need of more doses. J&J said Friday that in the U.S. and seven other countries, the single-shot vaccine was 66 percent effective overall at preventing moderate to severe illness, and much more protective—85 percent—against the most serious symptoms.”
Some folks might look at that efficacy rate and think it’s not as good as the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. But there are tradeoffs.
For starters, you only need one shot with Johnson & Johnson. No trickiness with a follow-up visit three weeks later. And it doesn’t need a fancy freezer for ultra-cold storage. This will help with accessibility in harder-to-reach areas.
And while 66 percent isn’t as good as 95 percent, keep in mind that it’s still better odds than you get with the average flu vaccine, which is about 40 percent effective.
We need every vaccine we can get. Assuming the feds approve this one (and the vaccine from Novavax, which has an efficacy rate of about 90 percent), that’s two more tools in America’s arsenal to fight covid-19.
The time to get these vaccines into people’s arms is yesterday. And since we’re seeing shortages with the two vaccines that are already approved, why not double that capacity when Uncle Sam’s scientists give the approval?
Add in the fact that the AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for all adults by regulators in the EU, and maybe we’ll soon have another tool in our collection.
With the current news cycle, you have to take good news where you can get it. And Friday saw two or three good headlines stack on top of each other. That was a good day.