As the number of COVID-19 vaccines distributed throughout the U.S. continues to ramp up, clinics are being held with increasing frequency in the region.

On Friday, the Three Rivers Health District held a clinic at Gloucester’s Newington Baptist Church, using the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Compared to Pfizer and Moderna, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a slightly lower efficacy rate. However, the J&J vaccine has proved to be effective in preventing serious COVID-19 infection as well as hospitalization and death attributed to the virus.

According to Cindy Williams, Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at Riverside, the FDA was going to approve any COVID-19 vaccine that had at least a 50 percent efficacy rate. She also said that typical flu vaccines have about a 50 to 60 percent efficacy rate in any given year.

“Take what vaccine you can get,” said Williams.

She said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was a couple of months behind the Pfizer and ...