What Should I Do If I Have Received The Johnson & Johnson Covid
After getting the J& J vaccine, it is a good idea to monitor your health and watch for symptoms that may occur. Women younger than 50 years old should especially be aware of the rare risk of blood clots with low platelets after receiving the J& J vaccine. This risk has not been seen with the two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines . If you received a J& J COVID-19 vaccine, you can find out more about this rare but serious adverse event , including what symptoms to look out for, on the CDC website.
It is important to remember that mild side effects from COVID-19 vaccines are common, particularly in the first 2-3 days after vaccination. They are a sign that your immune system is responding to the vaccine. Many people have pain, redness and swelling in the arm where they got the shot. They also may experience tiredness, mild headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. These side effects usually start within a day or two of getting the vaccine and usually go away within a few days.
However, you should contact a healthcare provider if you experience any of these symptoms within three weeks of receiving the J& J vaccine:
- Shortness of breath
- Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
- Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection
What Is The Difference Between A Booster Dose And An Additional Primary Dose
To understand the difference between a booster dose” and an additional primary dose, its important to understand each of the following terms.
A primary series is the initial dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. For Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines, the primary series is two vaccine doses. For the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the primary series is a single vaccine dose.
An additional primary dose is a subsequent dose given after a primary series . This is recommended only for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised, because they may not have received adequate protection from their initial series. See the COVID-19 Vaccines for People who are Moderately or Severely Immunocompromised page on the CDC website for more information.
A booster dose is a supplemental vaccine dose given to people when the immune response to a primary vaccine series is likely to have waned over time. There are national recommendations for a single vaccine booster dose in some populations. See the COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters page on the CDC website for more information.
Nor Should The Process Be Accelerated
Just as people shouldnt despair if they havent been able to get the vaccine shot, they shouldnt rush to complete the schedule ahead of time, Dr. Ramirez added.
No matter what type of technology the vaccines use, the important thing about them is to wait the minimum recommended 3 or 4 weeks because thats what the body needs to react to the first dose.
If we apply the two doses over a shorter period, for example, the first dose one week and the second dose the next week, the body wont have finished generating the immune response hoped for with the first dose, explained the doctor.
Its important that people get the second dose because they havent attained the maximum protection that the vaccine can offer. Dr. Teresa Ramírez
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Myth: Receiving A Covid
FACT: Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will not make you magnetic, including at the site of vaccination which is usually your arm.
COVID-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection. All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.
Learn more about the ingredients in the COVID-19 vaccinations authorized for use in the United States.
What Are Myocarditis And Pericarditis

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart. In both cases, the bodys immune system causes inflammation in response to an infection or some other trigger.
Many different things can cause these types of inflammation, most commonly infections with a virus, including the flu, common cold viruses, and the virus that causes COVID-19. Most cases of myocarditis and pericarditis are minor, and many times dont cause symptoms at all.
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Can You Still Get Ill With Covid
The new vaccines are very good, but theyre not perfect, and no vaccine works perfectly for everybody. The highest estimates of their peak efficacy are above 90%, but not quite 100%. After youre vaccinated, it is possible that you could catch Covid-19. But if you do get ill, its much less likely to be severe and youre much more likely to recover without needing to be hospitalised.
Have you read?
Remember, immunity takes weeks to properly develop after getting your first dose, so during that time you may still be at some risk.
Theres also the danger of new coronavirus variants emerging that might be able to avoid the vaccines effects. For example, people have been concerned about the delta variant, first identified in India but now spreading in many countries. Public Health England has looked at how effective the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines are against this variant. So far, it seems that the first dose of either vaccine is less likely to stop the variant from causing illness but protection from the second dose is much higher.
Johnson & Johnson: 66%
J& J looked at protection against moderate to severe COVID-19 in trials, rather than symptomatic COVID-19, like Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca.
Protection kicked in at 14 days and was 66.1% effective at 28 days. The vaccine’s efficacy varied depending on the country it was used in it was 72% effective in the US but 64% and 68% effective in South Africa and Brazil, respectively. These countries both have coronavirus variants circulating that could partially evade antibodies.
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What You Need To Know
- Side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine can vary from person to person.
- Some people experience a little discomfort and can continue to go about their day. Others have side effects that affect their ability to do daily activities.
- Side effects generally go away in a few days.
- Even if you dont experience any side effects, your body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
- Adverse events are rare but can cause long-term health problems. They usually happen within six weeks of getting a vaccine.
How Effective Is The First Shot Of The Pfizer Or Moderna Vaccine
Editors note: Since this article was initially published, the coronavirus has continued to mutate. This updated version reflects research as of July 2021 suggesting that a single dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is not enough to reliably ward off infection. The recommendation remains to receive the full course of two shots.
Maybe youve postponed your second COVID-19 vaccine appointment, whether because of scheduling hassles or general reluctance. But how safe are you after just a single dose?
As an immunologist, I hear this question frequently and the answer has changed as new genetic strains of the coronavirus become more common. , the delta variant had become the most dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the U.S.
The Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines werent designed specifically to ward off the delta variant. While overall they still provide excellent protection after the full two doses, new research suggests a single dose provides less immunity against the coronavirus strains that are out there now than it did against the original strain.
Bottom line: Two shots are way better than one.
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Who Can Provide Vaccines And How Does That Happen
Any facility, organization, or healthcare provider licensed to possess or administer vaccine or provide vaccination services is eligible to enroll as a COVID-19 vaccine provider. Each facility or location, including those that are part of a hospital system or clinic network, must register at and complete the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement.
Is My Child Required To Receive The Covid
No. While the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended adding routine COVID-19 immunization to the 2023 immunization schedules for adults and children, that recommendation does not create any federal vaccination mandate. Texas has no state or local COVID-19 immunization requirements. Pursuant to Governor Abbotts Executive Order GA-39, which has been in effect since August 25, 2021, no government entity in Texas can mandate the COVID-19 vaccine.
DSHS will follow the direction of GA-39 and the Texas Legislature with respect to any COVID-19 or other new vaccine requirements.
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What Percentage Efficacy Means
Percentage efficacy for vaccines refers to the proportion of people that get full protection after a vaccine. With 80 percent efficacy, 80 percent of people have full protection, and 20 percent don’t.
For those who get full protection the first time around, the second shot improves the quality of the immune response and its durability.
For the people who don’t get full protection with the first shot, some will get full protection after the second dose. Some people won’t ever get full protection from a vaccine because their immune system doesn’t respond at all.
The Second Dose Raises Your Level Of Protection To The Maximum

Dr. Ramírez points out that the first dose provides protection of between 55 and 70%. However, just as when you get the full schedule, the level of protection begins to decrease over time.
Thats why its important for people to get the second dose because they havent reached the maximum protection that the vaccine can offer. Boosters help maintain levels of protection, but its potential hasnt been attained yet with a single dose, said the doctor.
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Johnson & Johnson Safety Information
Note: On December 16, 2021, CDC updated its recommendations with a preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over J& J. However, public health experts continue to say that getting any vaccine is better than being unvaccinated. J& J vaccine will remain available for people who are unable or unwilling to get an mRNA vaccine.
Who Is Considered Moderately To Severely Immunocompromised And Recommended To Receive The Additional Primary Dose
The additional primary dose of mRNA vaccine should be considered for people who are immunocompromised due to certain medical conditions or certain immunosuppressive medications or treatments. This includes people who have:
- Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
- Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency
- Advanced or untreated HIV infection
- Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
Other medical conditions may also make a person moderately or severely immunocompromised. For the most up-to-date information, see the COVID-19 Vaccines for Moderately to Severely Immunocompromised People page of the CDC website. If you have questions about whether you are eligible for an additional primary dose based on your medical condition or medical treatments, you can talk to your healthcare provider.
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How Long Does It Take For The Covid
If you or a loved one has gotten a COVID-19 vaccine already, congratulations! This is an important step in protecting individuals and the public from the spread of this deadly virus.
But let me guessyou still have some questions, right?
Many of us doeven the experts who study infectious diseases for a living. Here, Ill lay out what we know about how quickly and effectively the vaccine works and what we still dont know about the transmission of COVID-19.
And yes, Ill explain why you still have to wear a mask.
Lets start with a common question.
How long does it take for the COVID-19 vaccine to work?
Regardless of which vaccine you get, you wont reach full protection until two weeks after your second or final dose. Thats about how long it takes your immune system to mount an antibody response to the vaccine.
All vaccines work this way. Think of it in terms of when you have a coldit takes your body a good amount of time to rid itself of whats making you sick. A vaccine is essentially faking out your immune system and triggering a similar response. After the shot, your body has some work to do.
Am I protected from COVID-19 after the first shot?
The first of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine does offer some protection, but not nearly as much as youll get from both doses.
What happens if I dont get my second COVID-19 shot in time?
Can I stop wearing a mask after my COVID-19 vaccine?
Plus, remember that no vaccine is 100% perfect. You could still be vulnerable yourself.
Preclinical Trials Would Have Shown That They Didn’t Think There Was Enough Immunity After One Shot So They’ve Gone For Both Deborah Dunn
However, this early protection comes with some important caveats. First, the protection doesn’t kick in until at least day 12 until then, there was no difference between the two groups. Secondly, one dose is still significantly less protective than two. The latter is 95% effective at preventing the disease after a week.
But there is also another figure that has been circulating on the internet, and anecdotally, being fed to patients by certain doctors the suggestion that the first dose is around 90% effective. And this is where it gets a little more complicated.
The second estimate comes from the UK’s Vaccine Committee, the JCVI, who decided to calculate the efficacy of the vaccine differently. Instead of using all the data on the number of infections, including from days when the first dose hadn’t yet started to work, they only looked at days 15-21. Using this method, the efficacy of the vaccine jumps up to 89%, because it’s not being diluted by the relatively high number of infections before the vaccine begins to have an effect. Taking things even further and only looking at the first seven days after the second dose because the second dose might not have kicked in yet by then it’s 92%.
However, these calculations are controversial.
A vaccine developed to fight Ebola is the only one that uses the same technology as the Russian and Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 jabs
Oxford-AstraZeneca
Moderna
Sinovac
Sinopharm
Sputnik V
Can you skip the second vaccine dose?
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Does It Prevent Infection And Transmission
There is only modest impact on preventing mild infections and transmission, particularly in the context of Omicron.
Immunity persists for several months, but the full duration is not yet known. A booster dose restores vaccine effectiveness against Omicron, in particular against severe disease.
In the meantime, we must maintain public health measures that work: masking, physical distancing, handwashing, respiratory and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation.
Am I Still Considered Fully Vaccinated If I Dont Get A Booster Shot
People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing their primary series.
If you are moderately to severely immunocompromised, you should also get an additional primary dose to complete your primary series.
However, everyone should stay up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccines after completing their primary series. You are up to date if you are fully vaccinated and have also had the recommended additional primary dose and/or booster dose as nationally recommended. For complete details, see the Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines page of the CDC website.
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Newest Data Suggests Second Shot Provides Better Protection Against Variants
Real-word data from the UK posted May 23 by Public Health England showed that Pfizer’s and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines worked better against the variants when two doses were given rather than just one. Both vaccines were 30% effective against COVID-19 with symptoms caused by the Delta variant, first identified in India, three weeks after the first dose.
This was boosted to between 60% and 88% effectiveness two weeks after the second dose. The two vaccines were 50% effective against COVID-19 with symptoms against the variant first found in the UK, Alpha, three weeks after the first dose. This increased to between 66% and 93% two weeks after the second dose.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s chief medical advisor, said on June 8 that getting two doses of COVID-19 vaccines would stop the Delta variant from spreading across the US. In the UK, Professor Deborah Dunn-Walters, chair of the British Society for Immunology COVID-19 Taskforce, said in a statement on June 4 that two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were “critical for protection” against emerging strains of the virus.
Whats The Recommended Dosage

For adults aged 17 and above, SAGE recommends the use of the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine at a schedule of two doses 8 weeks apart.
For adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, SAGE recommends 2 doses , given intramuscularly, 4 weeks apart.
For children aged 6 to 11 years, SAGE recommends 2 doses , 4 weeks apart.
For children aged 6 months to 5 years, SAGE recommends 2 doses , 4 weeks apart.
WHO recommends that the second dose should be administered 48 weeks after the first dose an interval of 8 weeks between doses is preferred as this interval is associated with higher vaccine effectiveness and lower risk of myocarditis.
Compliance with the full schedule is recommended and the same product can be used for both doses.
SAGE recommends that severe and moderately immunocompromised persons should be offered an additional dose of vaccine. This is due to the fact that this group is less likely to respond adequately to vaccination following a standard primary vaccinationseries and are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
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