The United States has recommenced the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine, after the jab was halted almost two weeks ago pending an investigation into possible blood clot cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration released a joint statement, revealing that they would still warn of the risk of a potentially fatal side effect involving severe blood clots and low platelets in a fact sheet given to recipients.
Officials from America’s Food and Drug Administration said the decision to recommence the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson jab was effective immediately, making it possible for the vaccine to be accessible again as early as Saturday.
“We are no longer recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine” – CDC Director Rochelle Walensky
Medical watchdogs have determined there is a likely link between the J&J vaccine and blood clotting, ‘based on an in-depth analysis’ but urged the risk remains very low.
America’s latest decision on Johnson and Johnson vaccine follows a similar one made by the European Medicines Agency earlier this week.
The EMA on Tuesday said the benefits of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine outweighed any risks.
The European medical regulator recommended adding a warning about unusual blood clots with low blood platelet counts to the vaccine’s product label, which enabled J&J to resume its rollout across Europe.
