Rare Blood Clot Risk with J&J Vaccine. CDC Recommends Use of Other Vaccines
|
Click to Listen Now
|
The Johnson &Johnson vaccine has come under scrutiny in the United States and the Center for Disease Control recommends that other vaccines be used after experts cited evidence of a rare blood clot in the brain that resulted in deaths in the past year.
The big picture
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine has been advertised as a one-shot vaccine in the fight against COVID-19. However, it remains the least popular vaccine around the world as most people prefer Pfizer, Moderna and Astra Zeneca vaccines due to safety concerns.
Nonetheless, millions of people have been vaccinated with the J&J vaccine.
In recent days, before CDC’s recommendation, it was suggested that a booster shot of the J&J booster be given to improve protection for people who had received the Pfizer or Moderna shot.
CDC is depending on data that showed nine people died as a result of the J&J shot and 54 people hospitalized. The bloodclotting risk seems greater among women between the ages 30 and 49 years old — an estimated 1 in 100,000 who had received the shot.
Symptoms occurred nine days after vaccination in the affected cases.
Why it matters
More than 150,000 people have been vaccinated in the Bahamas, which includes people who have received the J&J shot. It has been pushed in the country’s vaccination campaign and even more so as the Omicron variant raises alarm in the UK and the USA.
Driving Force
CDC stopped short of halting the use of the vaccine as blood clotting cases are rare. The health board prefers that people use other vaccines first and the vaccine be used as an option for people who are “unable or unwilling” to receive the other vaccines.
Health officials in South Africa said no one has been negatively affected by the J&J vaccine.
It remains to be seen what stance the Bahamian government will take.
