FDA and CDC are set to call for Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine to be paused

FDA and CDC call for Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine to be PAUSED after six women out of nearly seven million people developed rare blood clots

  • Seven million people in the U.S. have recieved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine 

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control have called for Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine to be stopped in the U.S. after six women developed blood clots.   

The two federal authorities will stop using the vaccine at federal sites and will urge states to do so too.

Seven million people in the U.S. have recieved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine meaning just 0.0001% of those vaccinated had the adverse reaction.

A medical professional from UofL Health administers a vaccine to a patient in their vehicle at University of Louisville Cardinal Stadium in Kentucky on Tuesday

The six recipients who developed the clots were aged between 18 and 48.   

According to the CDC a further nine million shots have been sent to states for distribution.

A joint statement from the aurhorities read: ‘We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution.

‘As of 4/12, 6.8m+ doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC & FDA are reviewing data involving 6 reported U.S. cases of a rare & severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. 

‘Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. 

‘CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases. 

‘Until that process is complete, we are recommending this pause. This is important to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.’