Christina Spicer  |  April 13, 2021

Category: Covid-19

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Johnson & Johnson Halts Vaccine After Rare but Dangerous Blood Clots Reported

UPDATE:

  • As of July 13, 2021, the CDC and FDA recommend resuming use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, following a temporary pause.
  • A review of all available data revealed the J&J/Janssen vaccine’s “known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks,” according to the CDC.
  • However, women younger than 50 years old should be aware of the rare but increased risk of this adverse event, the CDC said.

Federal regulators issued a statement Tuesday calling for a pause in the administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after six women reported developing a blood clotting disorder after getting the shot.  

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) statement says that the agencies are reviewing the development of a rare and severe type of blood clot that developed after the administration of the single-dose shot developed by Johnson & Johnson. Currently, the agencies say that the blood clot disorder, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) developed in six women in combination with low blood-platelet levels (thrombocytopenia).  

The blood clots developed up to nearly two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was administered, say the agencies, in women between the ages of 18 and 48. One woman died and another is in the hospital, reports The New York Times. 

“People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider,” says the agencies’ statement.  

Approximately seven million individuals have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and nine million more have been distributed across the United States, according to data from the CDC. This number is dwarfed by the tens of millions of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccinations that make up the majority of doses given in the United States.  

Federal officials were quick to note that there are currently no safety concerns about those options, reports The New York Times; however, the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot made up an important part of the national program which aims to make all adult Americans eligible for vaccination on May 1.  

“Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” says the agencies’ statement. “COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously.”  

The pause in the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine option was framed as a recommendation to health care providers; however, at least one state has asked its health providers to stop administering the vaccine, notes The New York Times. In addition, the federal government has also put a pause on the use of the single-dose option in its vaccination program.  

Another vaccine option offered by AstraZeneca and not used in the United States has reportedly caused similar concerns in Europe.  

Top Class Actions will continue to monitor developments in this story.  

Have you or do you plan to get a COVID-19 vaccination? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.  

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