Who should get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the mRNA vaccines?

The Johnson & Johnson shot’s less stringent storage requirements could be an advantage in rural areas, Gulick said. “They can be put in a refrigerator and stored there, whereas Moderna, and definitely Pfizer, need much colder temperatures to keep their vaccine viable,” Gulick told Live Science. “The fact you can easily store [the Johnson & Johnson vaccine] in a doctor’s office, pharmacy, etc., could make it more accessible.”

This single-shot vaccine also could be better for people who might have difficulty traveling to hospitals or mass vaccination sites (especially those who are home- or bed-bound).

“People get one shot, but there’s no guarantee they can come back for the second shot,” Gulick told Live Science.