But the recommendation does not apply to the nearly 14 million Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine.
Here are answers to some common questions.
Why didn’t officials recommend reinforcements for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Less data is available on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was not authorized until late February, two months after the mRNA vaccines. In addition, Johnson & Johnson vaccines were temporarily halted while health officials investigated reports that a very small number of people had developed a rare blood clotting condition after receiving the vaccine.
More than 150 million Americans have received mRNA vaccines, far exceeding the 14 million who received the Johnson & Johnson injection, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How effective is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Clinical trials, conducted before the Delta variant became widespread, found that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had an overall efficacy of 72 percent in the United States, lower than the efficacy of approximately 95 percent. of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. However, it is difficult to make direct comparisons between vaccines, which were tested in different places and at different times.
Small laboratory studies have released conflicting results on how well the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protects against the Delta variant. Last month, Johnson & Johnson said a single dose of their vaccine elicited a strong immune response against Delta and that the response lasted at least eight months.
When will we know more?
Soon, the company said. “We are collaborating with the FDA, the CDC and other health authorities and will soon share new data on reinforcement with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against Covid-19,” Johnson & Johnson said in an emailed statement. .
When will I need a booster?
It is still unclear. The schedule for reinforcements will be determined in part by the data coming out over the next few weeks.
Johnson & Johnson’s first vaccines were not administered until early March. If federal officials recommend the same eight-month period between vaccination and booster injections, Johnson & Johnson’s first booster is likely to begin in November.
What should I do in the meantime?
Sit still, experts said. The federal government is well aware of the situation of Johnson & Johnson. It is not being overlooked. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine want more information, and that information will come.