CDC Panel Requests More Information on JJ COVID Vaccine, Continues Its Pause in the Rollout
An advisory panel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remained with their decision to halt the usage of Johnson and Johnson COVID Vaccine in the vaccine rollout. This follows the panel's request for more information regarding J&J's "rare" blood clot occurrence.
The CDC, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recommended the pause of J&J COVID vaccines on Tuesday, after a rare yet serious blood clot occurrence among six people who were inoculated with the vaccine brand, according to an NBC News report. Because of this, all 50 states in the U.S. have temporarily stopped administering Johnson and Johnson.
READ NEXT: After Blood Clot Reports, AstraZeneca Vaccine Suspended in Many EU Countries
CDC's Advisory Panel on J&J COVID Vaccine
Experts from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) noted that lack of information is why they cannot come up with a decision on using Johnson and Johnson's vaccine. The experts also emphasized that the other two vaccine brands, which are included in the U.S. vaccine rollout, have no safety concerns just like what J&J has.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky noted that one of the reasons they recommended all states in halting J&J in the rollout is that they want to alert medical healthcare providers on how to treat the blood clots ABC News reported.
Walensky pointed out that the blood clots should not be treated with Heparin, which is a blood clot medicine.
However, during the meeting, some ACIP members expressed their concern about the continued pause of J&J in the vaccine rollout.
"I continue to feel that we are in the race against time and the variants," said Dr. Grace Lee, a professor of pediatrics from Stanford University School of Medicine. However, Dr. Lee pointed out that the vaccine rollout should be done in the "safest possible way."
Meanwhile, Dr. Beth Bell, also a member of the advisory panel to the CDC, noted the importance of understanding the risk - although very rare and very low - is the best way to treat blood clot cases. Dr. Bell is also a clinical professor from the University of Washington in Seattle.
It can be remembered that EMA is also investigating J&J vaccines due to their blood clot occurrence. EMA's investigation on Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine is part of the preparation in including the said shot in the roster of vaccines inoculated in their rollout.
Blood Clot Cases
Federal regulators have noted that the blood clots occurred roughly six to thirteen days after the injection of the J&J COVID vaccine, according to a report from Mass Live. The six cases mentioned are reported to be a group of women aging 18-48 years old.
In addition, the six cases also involved rare blood clots in vessels leading out of the brain called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST.
The CDC and the advisory panel are set to have a scheduled meeting after at least a week. Meanwhile, the White House noted that the pause of the J&J COVID vaccine will not affect the president's goal to inoculate all American adults by the end of May.
READ MORE: U.S. Experts Questions EU's Decision to Halt AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout
WATCH: FDA calls to pause Johnson & Johnson vaccines over rare blood clots - from CNBC Television
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