Many of us have received the two-step vaccine but are still urged to wear masks. Eventually, if enough of us are vaccinated, we’ll be able to put mask history behind us. But, before you choose the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, you might consider this: While protecting you from serious consequences, just as Moderna and Pfizer do, it is significantly less effective in keeping you from getting corvid.

What’s the difference you might ask? Ninety-five (95) percent for the current versus 66 percent for Johnson and Johnson. What this means in laymen’s terms is you are about seven, yes, seven times more likely to be Infected and therefore spread the disease further.

I’m afraid the usage of this vaccine will significantly increase infections and extend mask wearing.

Michael Palanuk

Editor’s note: Health authorities caution that the comparison referenced is misleading because the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were tested before the emergence of new variants of the virus they protect against, while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was tested in populations already heavily affected by the newer variants. The differences between them is far less than indicated by the 95/66 ratio. Moreover, they advise people to get whatever vaccine is available, knowing that most people at this point have no personal choice. From the public health perspective, the portion of the population that remains unvaccinated is the bigger obstacle to ending the epidemic.