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UNC Health is closely monitoring the situation regarding the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. As a precaution, we will follow the FDA’s recommendation and pause vaccinations using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until federal authorities are able to review data and provide further guidance. Patients who were scheduled to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at UNC Health vaccination clinics today will be offered one of the other vaccines where possible or rescheduled as necessary. Severe reactions are rare. Click here for information on when to seek medical care.

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Benefits & Effectiveness

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help keep you from getting seriously ill.

The vaccines create an immune system response, which is a safe way to build protection from the virus. Vaccines help protect you and those around you, and they are an important tool to help stop the pandemic.

The COVID-19 vaccines have been through every stage of clinical trials that would normally take place for a vaccine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) followed all required steps, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have been actively involved in the evaluation process.

Clinical trials show that the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are about 95 percent effective at preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19. In clinical trials, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was 85 percent effective in preventing severe disease and essentially 100 percent effective in preventing hospitalization and death.

Learn more below.

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