Due to serious but rare blood-clot issues — thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome — the CDC is now recommending that Americans take the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer or Moderna instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot.
“More than 200 million Americans have completed their primary vaccine series, providing protection against COVID-19, preventing millions of cases and hospitalizations, and saving over a million lives,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “Today’s updated recommendation emphasizes CDC’s commitment to providing real-time scientific information to the American public.”
The CDC temporarily halted the one-dose J&J vaccine in April as scientists investigated the blood clots. Though regulators decided that it was safe, new FDA data says otherwise. Indeed, women between the ages of 30 and 49 are most affected by the blood clotting issue at a rate of about 1 in 100,000 shots.
There have been 54 confirmed blood clot cases, nine of which have been fatal with two more suspected, CDC officials say. They add that individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should still receive a booster dose as directed.
Further, if you have received a Johnson & Johnson shot as the primary dose and then a booster of another, you do not need to be re-vaccinated with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official.
About 16 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., compared to about 470 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Symptoms usually occur 6-14 days after receiving the J&J vaccine and include severe headaches, abdominal pain, back pain and nausea.
