December 18, 2021 8:00 a.m.

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup has endorsed the updated recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the prevention of COVID-19, expressing a clinical preference for people to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine over Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine for those 18 years of age and older.

A release from the Oregon Health Authority said those recommendations were made based on the mRNA vaccines’ greater effectiveness and stronger safety profile.

In its announcement, the workgroup said, “Although mRNA vaccines are now generally preferred, there may still be instances when the J&J vaccine may be used, such as persons who experienced an allergic reaction to a prior mRNA vaccine, or with persons who developed myocarditis or pericarditis from a prior mRNA vaccine”. The new guidance recommends that anyone who had a J&J vaccine as their first dose should get an mRNA vaccine as the booster dose. However, people who are aware of the new guidance can still request a J&J vaccine, if they want one.