USA Stops Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine For COVID-19 Infection Over Rare Blood Clots

The United States health authorities are calling to get a pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 infection after several reports have been observed with cases of the formation of extremely rare kinds of blood clots. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that they have taken this action out of an abundance of cautiousness.

According to the FDA, six cases have been detected with severe clotting of blood after the administration of greater than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This recommendation is followed after similar complications have been reported from several cases after administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has later prompted certain restrictions regarding its usage.

In a series of posts on Twitter, the Food and Drug Administration has stated that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is currently reviewing the reported cases of the formation of a severe and rare type of clotting in the blood in six individuals after being administered with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Right now, the side effects which has appeared to be in very, extremely rare cases.

The FDA has recommended pausing of injection across the United States regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 infection out of an abundance of caution.

By following this way, the healthcare providers would be aware of any possible complication which could arise after being administered with the viable coronavirus antidote.

A joint clarification has been given by the CDC and FDA, which states that the blot clots that had formed in some of the individuals after being injected with coronavirus vaccine were actually cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).

This type of clots in blood requires a different kind of treatment as compared to deep venous thrombosis. The most usually administered treatment is heparin, which is an anticoagulant drug of choice, but it could be dangerous in this, due to which an alternate drug is required to reduce chances of fatality.

All six reported cases were females with their ages between 18 years to 48 years, with the arising of symptoms from day 6 to 13 after administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is being reported that one woman had been reported dead, while another located in Nebraska is in very severe medical condition.

Statement by Johnson & Johnson

According to the joint statement, the individuals who have been able to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would develop a severe headache, pain in the abdomen and legs, along with shortness of breath within three weeks of administration of the vaccine and should immediately contact any healthcare provider to prevent further complication of health condition.

Johnson & Johnson, which is a United States healthcare firm, has issued a statement stating that the company’s number one priority is the safety of their users, and the firm has also shared all collected data from the side effects cases with the healthcare authorities.

The company also stated that they are completely aware of the events related to the formation of thromboembolism, including reports of thrombocytopenia with the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against coronavirus pandemic. In the present day and age, no clear relationship has been linked between these rare events and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The firm would continue to work alongside health regulators.

AstraZeneca vaccine

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been administered in millions of individuals, has also lead to the formation of rare clotting of blood. The reports have led forward to suspecting of some nations regarding its usage, which was also suspended for a certain time period but has now been resumed back to normal. Although in a small number of cases with the minimum recommended age, which for example is 60 years and above individuals in Germany.

In the United Kingdom, the health care authorities have been advised that those individuals who are under the age of 30 years should be offered an alternate vaccine.

According to a review conducted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, it has been observed that after administration of more than 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the general population, 79 people have reportedly been diagnosed with the formation of a rare kind of clotting in the blood, out of which 19 of whom suffered a fatality.

Read also Alternate Vaccine To Oxford-AstraZeneca For Under-30s In UK