The Centers for Disease Control said in a statement on Tuesday that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could resume immediately on Wednesday. The alert came after a chaotic day when the Food and Drug Administration recommended a “break” for the vaccine, causing virtually every state to stop using the single-dose vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will convene an emergency session on Wednesday with a scheduled “updated recommendations for use” vote before the group adjourns at 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief adviser, told CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell on Tuesday evening that the adverse effect appears to have occurred within six to 13 days and “so if you had it a month or two ago, I don’t think you really have to worry about anything. “
Fauci pointed out that the chance of these side effects is “less than 1 in a million”, but said he was alert to symptoms such as severe headaches, some difficulty moving – such as in a neurological situation – or some discomfort. in the chest and difficulty breathing.
As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered in the United States, a small portion of the total of 190 million COVID vaccines administered nationally – most from Pfizer and Moderna.
The White House said Tuesday that the break “will not have a significant impact” on the nationwide vaccination plan. President Biden assured Americans that he had made sure the United States had enough doses of vaccine for all American adults in Pfizer and Moderna alone.
A handful of cases that the FDA and CDC are investigating have occurred in women and involved a blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, which was seen along with low levels of platelets in the blood, according to their statement. Symptoms were observed six to 13 days after vaccination in women aged 18 to 48 years.
“The treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that could usually be given. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this context, the administration of heparin can be dangerous, and alternative treatments must be given, “they said.
The agencies said that “adverse events” seem to be extremely rare, but that the break is important so that healthcare providers can be aware of the reactions and recognize and manage cases correctly, given the unique treatment required.
Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.