Clinical studies exploring the effectiveness of mixing COVID-19 vaccine brands, and stories of prominent figures across the globe using two different brands to self-vaccinate, are generating discussion.
Regardless of this media coverage, the CDC, the medical community, and Intermountain still recommend getting the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine using the same brand and recommend against J&J-vaccinated individuals getting a second dose of any brand.
Why is this recommended?
- Many of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers are researching in their laboratories how mixing and matching the brands impacts the immune response. The research is still ongoing, so we don’t know if the approach is safe or effective.
- Studies in the UK showing the AstraZeneca vaccine is more effective against the Delta variant when the single-dose vaccine is then combined with an mRNA dose—signifies the J&J single-dose vaccine might not be as effective against the Delta variant too, but safety and effectiveness of combining J&J with other brands is still inconclusive.
- The CDC does recommend providing a full series of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine to someone who has only received a partial series of a non-FDA approved vaccine. For example, someone who received one dose of the AstraZeneca or one dose of the Novavax vaccine as part of a clinical trial or in another country where it’s approved, should restart with the full series of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
- Even with more recent studies conducted when variants have been circulating, the risk of severe disease in a person who has been vaccinated with the J&J vaccine is very low.
Intermountain supports the requirements and recommendations that the FDA and CDC have for all U.S. health systems and individuals regarding vaccines under emergency use authorization.
Until we know more and the CDC changes its recommendations on usage of COVID-19 vaccines, Intermountain will continue to support same-brand COVID-19 vaccination and the guidance from the FDA and CDC. Watch for updates as the discussion progresses. Patients or caregivers with questions should contact their primary care provider.