Feds to stop using J&J COVID-19 vaccine amid concerns
(Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
The U.S. federal government will stop using the Johnson & Johnson variant of the COVID-19 vaccine amid reports that several individuals developed rare side effects that required hospitalization and, in at least one case, was fatal.
The decision to stop using the Johnson & Johnson variant at the federal level was first revealed by the New York Times in a story published on Tuesday. The newspaper said the announcement is expected later today.
Officials with the Centers for Disesae Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will stop distributing the Johnson & Johnson variant of the COVID-19 vaccine at federal sites, the newspaper reported.
Federal health officials are expected to urge states to take the same measures, though there is no indication they will mandate local governments to take the same or a similar action. The Johnson & Johnson-produced shot has been offered at some California vaccination sites since it was approved by the FDA in late February.
The Johnson & Johnson variant of the vaccine is one of three approved for use in the United States, and is sought after by some patients because it requires just one dose to be effective. The other two variants — one produced by Pfizer, the other by Moderna — require two doses administered several weeks apart.
Some federal health officials expressed concern over the Johnson & Johnson variant of the vaccine after several women were afflicted with rare complications involving blood clots. One person died within two weeks of receiving the vaccine; another was hospitalized in critical condition, the Times reported.
Health experts think the specific type of blood clots, which are exceptionally rare, may have been caused by an immune response triggered by the vaccine, though the exact cause is still being investigated.
Pfizer and Moderna combined produce around 23 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine per week. Federal officials hoped the variant produced by Johnson & Johnson would increase the overall availability of vaccine supplies at a time when most states, at the urging of the federal government, were making the shot more accessible based on a widening of eligibility among the population.
The immediate effects of pausing federal distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is unknown, though it comes at a time when states are trying to offset a so-called “fourth wave” of infections.
The Johnson & Johnson shot was also favored by federal and state officials for distribution in rural areas where access to medical care is complicated due to geography or distance from a hospital.
Connect with Solano NewsNet on Twitter and Facebook for breaking news updates.
We’re proud to produce independent news for Solano County. This newsletter is an all-volunteer effort. If you would like to show your appreciation, consider making a donation in any amount or signing up for a paid subscription.