CDC: If you received the J&J shot, get boosted with Moderna or Pfizer

If you are among the approximately 321,000 people in Arizona who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, it’s natural to have questions about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “expressing a clinical preference” for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over the one you received.

The CDC notes that this preference for the two available mRNA vaccines is made out of an abundance of caution due to extremely rare side effects from the J&J vaccine.

If you received J&J at least four weeks ago, the CDC says you are not at increased risk for side effects.

If you received J&J, the CDC has already recommended getting a booster two months or more after your dose. This week’s statement encourages patients to get boosted with an mRNA vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer).

With COVID-19 highly active across Arizona, everyone who is fully vaccinated should be making plans to get a booster dose. For those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, get a booster when you are at least six months past your primary series to be sure your protection is up to date.

Please visit azhealth.gov/FindVaccine to locate a convenient provider of safe, free and highly effective booster doses.

By Jessica Rigler|2021-12-20T14:32:53-07:00December 20th, 2021|Preparedness|Comments Off

About the Author: Jessica Rigler

Jessica Rigler, an Arizona native, began her public health career more than 15 years ago, serving in varied roles with local, state, federal, and international public health agencies. Jessica has been with the Arizona Department of Health Services for over 12 years, supporting evaluation activities with the state immunization program, serving as the state’s first Healthcare Associated Infections Coordinator, and leading the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control. She is currently an Assistant Director overseeing the Division of Public Health Preparedness at ADHS, which spans the areas of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health Statistics, Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. In recent years, Jessica has worked with the ADHS team to lead critical public health responses including opioids and COVID-19. Jessica holds Bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and human development from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s degree in public health from Emory University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and certified in infection control.