N.C. to get one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine

From our news services

North Carolina expects to receive 80,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson’s (Janssen) vaccine beginning on Wednesday, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services announced today.

The federal government on Saturday authorized the one-shot vaccine.

“A third COVID-19 vaccine means North Carolina can get more people vaccinated sooner, which will save lives and slow the spread,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy K. Cohen. 

Like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines currently in use, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against virus-related hospitalization and death, according to a press release issued today.

There are possible temporary reactions, such as a sore arm, fever, headache or feeling tired and achy for a day or two. All of the COVID-19 vaccines currently authorized were built upon decades of previous work on similar vaccines.

This increased supply will help to ensure the equitable distribution and access to COVID-19 vaccines in every community in the state, the release said.

This vaccine does not require extreme cold storage. As a result, it can be more easily shipped, stored and administered, factors that will help to increase the number of vaccination sites and make them more accessible.