The CDC said in a statement that the United States should resume the use of the vaccine without any restriction on who should be offered it. The announcement for the resumption of the vaccine was made by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to a report ANI, the pause on the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was recommended after the reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals.
Janet Woodcock, M.D., acting FDA Commissioner said in a statement that safety was their top priority, and that pause on the vaccine was an example of their extensive health monitoring, working to identify even these small number cases.
The commissioner added that they have lifted the pause on the vaccine based FDA and CDC’s review of the statistics, a recommendation from CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices and in consultation with medical experts.
Woodcock further added, “We have concluded that the known and potential benefits of Jansen COVID-19 Vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older. We are confident that this vaccine continues to meet our standards for safety, effectiveness and quality. We recommend the people with questions about which vaccine is right for them to have those discussions with their health care provider”.
About three weeks ago, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize had suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after health concerns were raised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr Rochelle P. Walensky (Director, CDC), said that “health and safety” were at the “forefronts” of their decisions.
Meanwhile, the US and India are working closely to facilitate the movement of essential supplies during the COVID-19 surge.
