Arizona expert says 1-shot vaccine is ‘game-changer,’ but don’t shop around

PHOENIX – Arizona’s former health director said the pending one-shot COVID-19 vaccine will be a “game-changer,” but there’s no reason to shop around when it comes to getting vaccinated.

Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association and former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said the convenience of the single dose isn’t the only thing that will set the Johnson & Johnson vaccine apart from the existing ones.

“But also, the storage and handling of this vaccine is a snap,” Humble told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday, a day after Johnson & Johnson asked federal regulators to approve its vaccine. “You just put it in a refrigerator.

“So what that means is that it’s a great vaccine for pharmacies, drug stores, doctor’s offices.”

If approved, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would become the third one available in the United States, joining Moderna and Pfizer.

The vaccines that have been in use in the U.S. since December each require two doses spaced several weeks apart and must be kept frozen during shipment and storage. They also have been in short supply, forcing authorities to limit distribution to high-risk populations.

“Game-changer in the U.S., but globally this is real godsend, this vaccine,” Humble said. “Developing nations in Africa and so forth are really betting on this Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of the easy storage and handling and the fact that it’s a one-and-done.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine doesn’t match the overall protection from the coronavirus of the highly effective Moderna and Pfizer versions, but that doesn’t really matter, Humble said.

“When you look at its effectiveness in preventing severe disease and deaths, it’s just about as effective,” he said.

“You can think of it like this: It’s an insurance policy against dying and probably an insurance policy against going to the ICU, but you might get a slight illness when compared to the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccines.”

As such, Humble recommends getting the first vaccine you can into your arm.

“If you have access to one of these vaccines, get it, and it doesn’t matter which manufacturer that you’re talking about,” he said.

“Time is more important than that small percentage difference [in effectiveness], in my opinion.”

Humble said he expects the Johnson & Johnson to get emergency use authorization in late February, with the shots available soon after.

“They’ve got vaccine ready to deliver now, so by the very end of February, probably March 1, we’ll see some Johnson & Johnson vaccine here in Arizona, I think,” Humble said.

To learn more about vaccine availability, the Arizona Department of Health Services website has a vaccine-finder page with a map of locations and information about registration.

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