Centers for Disease Control said in a warning on Tuesday that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be resumed as soon as Wednesday. The alert came after a chaotic day in which the Food and Drug Administration recommended that there be a “pause” for the vaccine, which led virtually all states to stop using the drug. single dose.
The CDC Advisory Committee on CDC Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday for an emergency session, with a vote on “updated use recommendations” before the group adjourns at 4:30 p.m.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Biden, said Tuesday night on “CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell that the adverse effect appeared to occur within six and thirty days and “so if you have it a month two years ago, I don’t think you really have to worry about anything.”
Fauci stressed that the possibility of these adverse side effects is “less than 1 in a million,” but said he was alert to symptoms such as severe headache, some difficulty moving, as in a neurological type of situation, or some chest discomfort and difficulty breathing.
As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered across the United States, a small portion of the 190 million COVID vaccines administered nationwide, most by Pfizer and Moderna. .
The White House said Tuesday that the break “will not have a significant impact” on the national vaccination plan. President Biden assured Americans that he had made sure the U.S. had enough doses of vaccine for all American adults only from Pfizer and Modern.
The handful of cases the FDA and CDC are investigating occurred in women and involved a blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, which was seen alongside low levels of blood platelets, 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 can normally be given. Normally, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this context, the administration of heparin can be dangerous and alternative treatments are needed. they are given, “they said.
Agencies said “adverse events” appear to be extremely rare, but that the pause is important so health care providers can be aware of the reactions and properly recognize and manage cases, given the unique treatment required.
Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.