The first doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were administered in Arkansas on Monday.
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Arkansas Department of Health Public Information Officer Danyelle McNeill said the state first received those 24,400 doses late the week before.
Garland County Health Officer Dr. Gene Shelby said all three vaccines currently available are effective at preventing hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
According to The Associated Press, the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were 95% protective against symptomatic COVID-19 in the U.S. The Johnson and Johnson one-dose was 85% effective against severe COVID-19, but dropped to 66% once moderate cases were included.
The Associated Press reports there is "no apples-to-apples comparison because of differences in when and where each company conducted its studies, with the Pfizer and Moderna research finished before concerning variants began spreading."
Shelby said he doesn't recommend waiting to get a vaccine in hopes of getting one over the other.
"If you're in a category where you can get the vaccine, get it. It's very safe, it's very effective, and the more people we can get vaccinated, the sooner this is going to be history," he said.
More information on how the Johnson & Johnson vaccine works, as well as why it's causing a stir among Catholic communities, can be found in the video on our website or our app.