Navigating Vaccine Efficacy and Accessibility Amidst COVID-19 Variants

A third COVID-19 vaccine could receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration this month. The vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson is 66% effective in preventing moderate to severe disease, according to a global study.

Combined with the two vaccines currently in circulation, the U.S. could have three vaccines that are all highly effective at preventing death or hospitalization due to COVID-19.

Despite that promising news, NPR's Richard Harris reports on why the journey to herd immunity still won't be easy.

And Rae Ellen Bichelle goes inside a Colorado long-term care facility that has vaccinated nearly all of its residents. They say the initial steps to a return to normalcy feel great.

Additional reporting in this episode on the spread of coronavirus variants from NPR's Allison Aubrey.

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