Santa Barbara County Health experts discuss CDC’s recommendation of Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over J&J
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just announced its recommendation for Americans to take Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines instead of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The agency said the recommendation was made due to rare but serious blood clots.
"More than 200 million Americans have completed their primary vaccine series, providing protection against COVID-19, preventing millions of cases and hospitalizations, and saving over a million lives," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
The CDC temporarily stopped Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine in April as scientists researched the blood clots.
Health experts in Santa Barbara County share their insight for those who already received the Johnson & Johnson.
Doctors at Cottage Health say there is still an advantage to one dose of the vaccine, but they understand why the Pfizer and Moderna are recommended over J&J.
"There's an advantage for people who just need one shot who have not been vaccinated but we've now understand that pfizer and moderna really really seem to work well," said Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, infectious disease specialist at Cottage Health.
Even if you already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Cottage Health recommends that you go ahead and get a booster shot with the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
