Americans' Failure to Get 2nd COVID Shot Shows Need for 1-Dose Vaccine

The former acting director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that people are not getting their second dose of COVID-19 vaccines which “points to the importance of one-shot vaccine.” Statistics show that over 8% of people are not returning for that second, vital dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, according to a report in The New York Times this weekend. That means more than 5 million people have missed their second shot and may not have full immunity against the virus.

According to NBC/Today, Dr. Richard Besser said that the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine was temporarily paused by government regulators when several people developed blood clots after receiving the vaccine. But on Friday, a review board concluded that the benefits of the J & J drug far outweigh the risks. Of the 8 million shots administered in the U.S., 15 people developed the condition and three died, per USA Today.

Besser said that there has been a sharp drop off in the number of people getting vaccinated and does not think the U.S. will continue to administer 3 million doses daily. Having a one-shot vaccine could help those who are hesitant to get vaccinated.