Health Authorities Discourage J&J COVID-19 Vaccine Amid Concern About Blood Clots
AllSides Summary
Health authorities and drug regulators in the U.S. are conveying more concerns about rare but severe blood clots associated with Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.
On Thursday, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel unanimously gave a preferential recommendation to the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines over Johnson & Johnson's one-shot vaccine. Also this week, the Food and Drug Administration updated its fact sheet for health care providers who administer the J&J vaccine, citing current evidence that "supports a causal relationship between" blood clots and the J&J shot. At least 54 cases of of blood clots after receipt of the J&J vaccine have been reported in the U.S. to date. Seven women and two men, ranging in age from 28 to 62, died from the clots; another two deaths are suspected to be linked to the vaccine. The U.S. has administered roughly 17 million J&J doses. The two-shot vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer use mRNA technology, while the J&J shot is built on "more traditional virus-based technology." In April, health officials recommended a nationwide pause on administration of the vaccine due to concerns about blood clots. The pause was lifted 10 days later.
Outlets across the spectrum covered the news prominently and with a similar emphasis on the deaths linked to J&J's vaccine. Some on the right highlighted previous concerns about J&J's vaccine. Some on the left focused on how weakened support for J&J's vaccine could undermine public confidence in COVID-19 vaccines.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
CDC vaccine advisers vote to recommend Pfizer, Moderna vaccines over J&J's
Vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted 15-0 Thursday to change recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines to make clear that shots made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech are preferred over Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
The new recommendation: "mRNA vaccines are preferred over the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 for those 18 years of age and over."
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices endorsed the updated recommendation after hearing new data indicating that a rare blood clotting syndrome is more common among people who...
From the Center
CDC advisory panel, concerned about rare side effects tied to J&J vaccine, gives preferential nod to mRNA shots
Apanel that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a rare preferential recommendation to the Covid vaccines based on messenger RNA technology on Thursday — a decision aimed at steering people away from the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine because of concerns about a rare but serious side effect.
The recommendation passed by a unanimous vote, with all 15 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices supporting it.
The recommendation levels another blow to J&J’s vaccine, which has struggled to find a foothold in the U.S. market....
From the Right
FDA Strengthens Warning Over Severe Condition Linked to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. drug regulators this week formally strengthened a warning to Americans regarding a severe condition linked to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Blood clots and low blood platelet levels, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), are now listed as a contraindication, or a medical reason for somebody not to get the shot.
“Do not administer” the vaccine to individuals with a history of the set of conditions following the vaccine or any other adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says in an updated fact sheet (pdf) for health care providers...
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