U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released a joint statement from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. Based on six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot, HHS recommends that vaccine providers pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting April 14 and will provide updates. The CDC and FDA will provide additional information and answer questions at a media briefing. A recording of that media call will be available on the FDA’s YouTube channel.
People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.