ORLANDO, Fla. — Health officials lifted an 11-day pause on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations Friday, as recommended by a Centers for Disease Control advisory panel.
The panel spent hours discussing the rare but serious blood clots associated with the vaccine.
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As of April 21, there were 15 cases of blood clots reported in people who had received the shot out of nearly 8 million doses that were administered.
After pouring over the data for six hours, the decision was made to recommend a restart.
CDC and @US_FDA lift recommended pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) #COVID19 vaccine use following thorough safety review. See full statement: https://t.co/yTTGfGsgSH pic.twitter.com/1kYETjWUgJ
— CDC (@CDCgov) April 23, 2021
“The benefits clearly outweigh the risks from a population perspective, and an individual perspective,” one advisor said. “While we don’t have all the information, I think we do have enough to move forward.”
Of the 15 reported cases of blood clots, all were in women between the ages of 18 and 59. Three of them died, and seven remain hospitalized.
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The panel considered issuing a warning to women under 50 not to take the vaccine. However, some members expressed concern that doing so could deter those women from getting any vaccine at all.
Ultimately the panel voted to have the Food and Drug Administration update the vaccine’s label to make women aware of the risk.
The CDC signed off on the recommendations just two hours later and the FDA is updating its emergency use authorization.
(1/2) J & J Update: The state is planning to resume the use of the one-dose J & J vaccine as soon as possible. The state is reviewing the guidance issued by @CDCgov & @US_FDA and is still determining what day the state will resume the use of the J & J vaccine.
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) April 24, 2021
“With these actions, the administration of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines can resume immediately,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.
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The Florida Division of Emergency Management says it will eventually resume Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccinations at the FEMA site at Valencia College, but they haven’t set an exact date.
Officials say they’ll review the CDC and FDA guidance then release more details over the weekend.
Cox Media Group
