The feds’ foolish J&J vax pause is already undermining the war on COVID

More than a third of Americans remain vaccine-hesitant: that is, they tell pollsters that they will either definitely refuse the jabs, accept them only if required or wait and see how others do with vaccination. Among these groups, the top concern is serious side effects. In monthly surveys between December 2020 and March 2021, the number of people who wanted to wait and see how others react to vaccination declined from 39 to 17 percent. In the wake of the J&J vaccine pause, no one should be surprised to see the percentage rise in the April survey, as yet unreleased. The J&J vaccine is particularly important for protecting the homebound, the elderly and rural residents from contracting and dying from COVID-19. The other two vaccines authorized for use in the United States — Pfizer and Moderna — require freezers for transportation and storage and two shots. The J&J vaccine only needs regular refrigeration and a single shot, making it much easier to use for these hard-to-reach populations. Without J&J, they might go unvaccinated altogether.