Late last month, the Arizona Department of Health Services resumed use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine following a safety review. For providers in rural parts of the state, it was good news. They were able to continue vaccinating homebound seniors.

Sunshine Dean is with Spectrum Healthcare Group, which serves homebound seniors in Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. 

"We've vaccinated over 2,600 people in their homes to date, she said.

And many of those people were vaccinated using the Johnson & Johnson shot. Dean says they have clients who prefer that vaccine. 

"And, honestly, we're hearing from the community that they still feel like it's safe, they still want to have access to that vaccine," she said. "And it does really help us serve areas and pockets of people who would not otherwise get the vaccine."

It doesn’t require the same refrigeration as the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. And it’s a single dose.