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Washoe County to receive Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine this week

Mar 1, 2021 | Press Release

Washoe County to receive Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine this week

Region planning to use new vaccine next week

March 1, 2021. Reno/Sparks, NV – The Washoe County Regional COVID-19 Response Team is planning to receive the first shipment of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine this week and is working with regional partners and the State of Nevada on administering it as soon as next week. Janssen is the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the vaccine, which is owned by Johnson & Johnson. 

Approximately 3,600 doses of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine could arrive in Washoe County this week. The vaccine is one dose, can be refrigerated and was shown to be safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death.

There are now three COVID-19 vaccines that are approved and deemed safe and effective. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are the other two.

“We are working with the state of Nevada to quickly add the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine to our supply and distribute to the community as soon as possible,” said Kevin Dick, District Health Officer for Washoe County. “The logistical advantages of this vaccine in terms of shipping, storage and the fact that it’s one dose will be very helpful for all providers in Washoe County. The key to administering more vaccine is receiving more vaccine and this is certainly a positive step in the right direction.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Emergency Use Authorization for the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday for ages 18 and older, which allows for the vaccine to be dispensed in the United State. It determined that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the recommendation to use the vaccine on Sunday.

Here are a few Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) regarding the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine:

  • Question: Can I now choose to receive the Janssen vaccine?
    • Answer: At this time, residents will receive the COVID-19 vaccine that is available at the time of their appointment.
  • Q: Is the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine better than Pfizer or Moderna?
    • A: All three COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA have been proven effective in the prevention of contracting COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends receiving any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Q: Which COVID-19 vaccine is the best?
    • A: Experts say head-to-head comparisons among the three vaccines now available cannot be made, because the trials were conducted at different times during the pandemic and in different countries dealing with different variants and transmission rates. Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, for example, were tested before the emergence of troubling new variants in Britain, South Africa and Brazil. The nation’s leading medical experts are urging people to take whichever coronavirus vaccine is available to them.
  • Q: Can pregnant women receive this vaccine?
    • A: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should discuss their options with their healthcare providers.
  • Q: What are the side effects of the J&J vaccine?
    • A: Side effects that have been reported with the vaccine include:
      • Injection site reactions: pain, redness of the skin and swelling.
      • General side effects: headache, feeling very tired, muscle aches, nausea, and fever.
    • There is a remote chance that the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of the J&J COVID-19 Vaccine. See more here.
  • Q: Can the J&J vaccine give you COVID-19?
    • A: No. The J&J vaccine is what’s called a non-replicating viral vector vaccine, or an adenovector vaccine. The vaccine contains genetic components of the disease agent but since it’s not fully genetic material of the virus, it cannot make you sick. For more on how the vaccine works, see this video.

For more questions about COVID-19 vaccines in Washoe County, see our website www.COVID19WashoeVaccine.com.

The COVID-19 Regional Information Center is working together to deliver COVID-19 community updates in a unified manner. While press releases are only sent periodically for significant events, you can always get daily results on our website, https://covid19washoe.com/, our COVID-19 Dashboard or by following us on Twitter @COVID19Washoe. The entities include: City of Reno, City of Sparks, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Regional Transportation Commission, REMSA, Reno Sparks Indian Colony, Reno Police Department, Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District, University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County, Washoe County Health District, Washoe County School District and Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Also in the group are the area hospitals, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Renown Health and Saint Mary’s.