US health regulators lift pause on J&J vaccine

US health officials on Friday lifted an 11-day pause on Johnson Johnson coronavirus vaccinations.

The move follows an expert panel’s recommendation to use the vaccine for citizens aged 18 and over.

“The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for persons 18 years of age and older in the US population under the FDA, emergency use authorization,” the panel convened by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement, prompting authorities to end the pause.

US health authorities halted the use of the JJ shot on April 14 after officials uncovered 15 vaccine recipients who developed a highly unusual kind of blood clot. Some 8 million people have so far been given the one-dose JJ vaccine.

What are the possible risks?

All the instances of blood clotting after receiving the JJ vaccine occurred in women, most of whom were under the age of 50. Three subsequently died, and seven remain hospitalized.

CDC advisers said while JJ’s vaccine is important for fighting the pandemic, it’s also important that younger women are made aware of the risks in clear, understandable terms.

The panel of experts voted 10-4 in favor of lifting the 11-day pause, while adding warnings that women and health workers would see in leaflets at vaccination centers.

The panel had debated the use of outright age restrictions before electing not to implement such advice.

It would appear younger people are more vulnerable and one member of the panel believed the advice does not go far enough.

“This is an age group that is most at risk (of the clotting) that is getting the vaccine predominately to save other peoples’ lives, not their own. And I think we have a responsibility to be certain that they know this,” said Dr. Sarah Long of Drexel University College of Medicine, who voted against the proposal.

JJ has agreed with the FDA to work on a warning label for the vaccine. 

jsi/wmr (AP, Reuters, dpa, AFP)

Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/us-health-regulators-lift-pause-on-j-j-vaccine/a-57319989?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf