What is a “breakthrough” COVID case? Can I get a different vaccine if I received a Johnson and Johnson dose?

DETROIT – Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Frank McGeorge has kept viewers up to date and informed on all fronts. He answered your questions about the vaccine, the vaccination process and more.

Lily: More answers to questions about the coronavirus

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What is the difference between a revolutionary case and a variant infection?

If you are fully vaccinated and contract COVID, this is called a “breakthrough case”. A variant is a strain of the coronavirus that has changed in some way from the original virus. A variant can cause a case of rupture.

I got the Johnson and Johnson vaccine but I am now worried about the delta variant. I am 73 years old. Can I also get the Pfizer vaccine?

There is no official recommendation or clear data yet to guide the decision on a booster from another manufacturer. The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is estimated to be probably about 60% effective against the delta variant. Depending on your other risks or underlying factors and whether the vaccine is plentiful, this might be a consideration after talking with your doctor.

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My husband, 75, has diabetes and was diagnosed with bladder cancer from Agent Orange in Vietnam. He received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine on April 2, 2021. We recently heard that he may need to receive another shot of a vaccine to protect him from the newer variant. If this is true, what vaccine would you recommend that he receive? We have to travel quite a bit over the next couple of months and I don’t want to put his health at risk as we’ve come this far without contracting COVID-19.

Given her age and the risk of being immunocompromised following cancer treatment, a booster dose of vaccine is a strong consideration.

Although there has been no official recommendation based on clear data, there is preliminary information that the Pfizer vaccine would be a good choice in her situation. I would discuss it with his doctor.

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