LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has been approved and is bound for Kentucky but here's why you have a better chance of receiving either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

What You Need To Know

  • The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is released, but you will see more of the other two

  • There are more doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine

  • The single-dose J&J shot is ideal for rural areas and for those populations that have trouble coming in for second dose

  • Doctors at UofL Heath suggest the mass vaccination sites won't see the J&J vaccine

 

It's a numbers game. Far more doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines will be coming into Kentucky in the coming weeks. UofL Health only plans to receive 1,500 doses in its first week. Also, the single-dose J&J vaccine is optimal for vaccinating rural and other logistically challenging populations. 

“So specific areas where we may have a difficult time getting people to come back..." Dr. Jason Smith said Monday. Smith is the Chief Medical Officer for UofL Health. He believes the J&J vaccine would also be useful in vaccinating homeless residents for the same reason. Johnson and Johnson is the third vaccine to be approved by the FDA for emergency use but the first to be administered as a single dose. Dr. Smith says more doses of all three vaccines are on the way.

“You’re going to see an increase in vaccine supply not just from Johnson and Johnson but also an increase in both Pfizer and Moderna and I’ve always said once we really get this out into every pharmacy and clinic in the area that’s when we’ll really see a significant change in the number of people being vaccinated every day.”

Dr. Smith expects most of whatever doses of the J&J vaccine do come to Kentucky will be utilized and administered mostly by health departments and not the mass vaccination sites in either Louisville, Lexington, or Bowling Green.

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