Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Cleared for Use After Pause
After a 10-day pause, the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has been cleared for use in the United States. The pause was implemented due to concerns over rare blood clots in some recipients.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a joint statement on Friday, April 23, stating that they had reviewed the data and determined that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. The statement also included updated recommendations for the use of the vaccine.
According to the CDC, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can now be used in all adults aged 18 years and older in the United States, including those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, the CDC also noted that women under the age of 50 should be aware of the rare but increased risk of blood clots with low platelets following vaccination, and that other COVID-19 vaccines are available for their use.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose vaccine that has been shown to be highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death. It has been authorized for emergency use in the United States since February 2021.
The pause in the use of the vaccine was initiated after reports of rare blood clots in some recipients, particularly among women under the age of 50. Out of the nearly 8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that had been administered in the United States at the time of the pause, 15 cases of blood clots with low platelets had been reported.
The decision to pause the use of the vaccine was a precautionary measure to allow further investigation into the reported cases and to ensure that healthcare providers were aware of the potential risks.
Now that the vaccine has been cleared for use once again, the CDC and FDA are continuing to monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines and are encouraging anyone who experiences adverse reactions to report them through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
The clearance of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for use is welcome news for the ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. With the vaccine now available once again, more people can be protected against the virus and the potential for severe illness and death can be reduced.
