The deployment of the Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) COVID-19 vaccine hit some pitfalls this week as Detroit mayor says the city sticks to it Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Modern (NASDAQ: MRNA) vaccines for now, emphasizing Johnson & Johnson’s lower efficacy rate, before returning his comments.
And the country’s Catholic bishops are questioning the morality of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because it was created from cell lines derived from an aborted human fetus.
Thanks, but no thanks: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan declined to accept 6,200 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week, saying the new vaccine has lower efficacy than the Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Modern (NASDAQ: MRNA) vaccines.
“The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are 95% effective if you get two shots,” Duggan told a news conference Tuesday. “Johnson & Johnson is one shot, which is nicer, but it’s about 67% effective.”
Duggan spokesman John Roach issued a follow-up statement the next day saying the city has enough Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to cover all of next week’s scheduled vaccination appointments, according to coverage in the Detroit Free Press.
Roach added that the city would accept the Johnson & Johnson vaccines “in the next round” but would set up separate Johnson & Johnson vaccination sites and inform residents of the options between vaccines.
Duggan’s rejection of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was seized Friday by Andy Slavitt, senior White House adviser on COVID-19 response.
During a press conference, Slavin suggested that Duggan’s remarks that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was inferior to the other vaccines were a ‘misunderstanding’ and that he did not denigrate the vaccine.
“We were in constant conversation with Mayor Duggan, who said that was not really what he said, and / or that it was reported,” Slavin said. ‘In fact, he’s very keen on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. And I think we will repeat the message that the first vaccine is absolutely meaningful for all of us to take. ‘
A question about morality? Separately, the American Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement expressing concern about how the vaccine Johnson & Johnson was created.
“The vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have expressed concern because a cell line of abortion was used to test it, but not in its production,” the bishops said in a press release.
“However, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been developed, tested and manufactured using abortion cell lines that raise additional moral concerns.”
The bishops added that although it was ‘morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines that used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production process’, they recommended that Catholic congregations consider which vaccine to accept.
“However, if one can choose between equally safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, the vaccine that is least related to cell lines obtained through abortion should be chosen,” the statement read. “So if you can choose the vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna’s vaccines should be chosen over Johnson & Johnson.”
A number of Roman Catholic dioceses across the country – including the dioceses of Knoxville, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Syracuse – have also encouraged congregations to choose the Pfizer or Modern vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. .
The Vatican has not issued a statement related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and Pope Francis, who was vaccinated in January, told an Italian news station in January that it had been vaccinated against COVID-19. action, because you are playing with gambling. your health, you gamble with your life, but you also gamble with the lives of others. ”
JNJ Price Action: Johnson & Johnson shares ended Friday’s session 1.98% higher at $ 156.10.
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