For starters, 6.8 million Americans have received the J&J vaccine, and most recipients have reported no problems or just brief, mild illness. Among that large group of people, blood clots have been reported so far by six women. That’s six cases out of 6.8 million doses, literally fewer than a one in a million. It is not even certain that the vaccine caused these six cases of blood clots. A blood clot can be a serious health threat, but it can be treated.
With almost any wide-scale medical procedure, from appendectomies to flu vaccinations, a small number will experience some problems. But that’s not a reason to suffer with an inflamed appendix or refuse to get a flu shot.
Even though the J&J vaccine has been paused, doctors say the nation has enough doses of the other two approved vaccines — Pfizer and Moderna — to inoculate every American who wants to be protected. So there’s no reason for anyone to cancel an appointment or hesitate in making one. No problems have been reported with the other two vaccines, and more than 180 million doses of those two vaccines have been administered.
If anything, the decision to suspend the J&J vaccine after just six reports of problems shows how seriously health experts are being about the Covid vaccine process. They are erring on the side of caution, doing as much as possible to allay any concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines.
The Moderna and Pfizer shots are more than 90% effective against COVID-19, for as long as six months and probably longer. People who get this vaccine have the peace of mind of knowing that there is virtually no way they can contract this disease. The vaccine also reduces, though it apparently does not eliminate, chances of passing on the virus to someone else. A vaccinated person could still catch the virus even though it would not make him or her ill.
When these facts are added up, it’s clear that there are still many more reasons to get vaccinated than to put yourself and your family at risk. Even though a lot of progress is being made in this pandemic, people still get sick from Covid, and some of them die from it. The drive to achieve herd immunity against this deadly virus must continue.
You can do your part by getting vaccinated, wearing masks and social distancing. All of this can continue without the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which might even be cleared for use again soon. This is a speed bump, not a barrer, on the road to the full reopening we all want.
