Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine faces a double dose of problems. Georgia is the third largest state close temporarily a vaccination site after eight people suffered side effects from the shooting.
Earlier this week, 18 people in North Carolina reported side effects, while 11 people in Colorado responded to the shooting with symptoms ranging from dizziness, nausea and fainting.
“This is a really powerful vaccine, and what we see is part of that potency that refers to a very rare side effect that we just need to be aware of,” said Dr. David Agus, a CBS News medical contributor.
All three major vaccines in the United States have caused side effects in more than 60,000 people nationwide. For each manufacturer – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – only one tenth of 1% of all people reported side effects.
Another problem Johnson & Johnson is facing is distribution. The company is dramatically reducing shipments to states by 86% next week.
Meanwhile, Michigan is facing a terrible deja vu, as some intensive care units in the hospital are close to capacity.
“We all know what works and this has to be a team effort. We have to do this together. Lives depend on it,” said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer calls for a two-week break to dine indoors, to learn in person for high school and for youth sports – a driving factor in new cases among children.
Pfizer is the first company to apply for an extension of its emergency authorization to administer the vaccine to children up to 12 years of age.
In California, thousands were rejected after being told to go to one place with extra doses. In New York, variants cover almost 80% of new cases daily, with 45% at home. Another 30% are driven by the variant first discovered in the UK, which is believed to be up to 70% more contagious and lethal.
Agus warns Americans not to panic.
“The current vaccines that are available in the public service against all variants,” said CBS News. “Science is overtaking here. And that’s why I think by June we’re going to get over this virus in the United States and get to a new normal here.”