Earlier today, the U.S. CDC and FDA jointly recommended a temporary “pause” on use of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. due to reports of a rare clotting disorder among young women who had recently received the J&J vaccine. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet tomorrow, April 14 to further review the data on this condition. Read on for what you need to know about this emerging situation.
The situation: The CDC and FDA reported on 6 young women, ranging from age 18 – 48 years, who experienced rare and serious blood clots associated with low platelet counts; one of the women died. The women had all received a dose of the J&J vaccine 6-13 days before their condition began. A similar condition has been reported in Europe among people who had recently received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC is estimating a frequency of 1 case in 1 million doses – similar to or less than the frequency of serious allergic reactions to the vaccine. Of particular concern, people with this condition can’t be treated with blood thinners – the usual treatment for blood clots – because of their low platelet counts. The CDC has not identified common risk factors for this condition aside from the women’s age and gender, but they will evaluate it further. The CDC and FDA have not identified this condition in people who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, despite more Americans having received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines than the J&J vaccine.
If you have an appointment for the J&J vaccine: Call your healthcare provider or vaccine clinic and ask to either postpone your appointment or to get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine instead.
If you got the J&J vaccine more than a month ago: You are most likely at very low risk. The CDC reports that this condition in rare in persons vaccinated more than a month ago. However, notify your healthcare provider of any unusual or severe symptoms.
If you got the J&J vaccine within the past 2-3 weeks: Seek medical care ASAP if you have any of the following symptoms, and be sure to tell your healthcare provider that you recently received the J&J vaccine:
- Severe headache,
- Severe abdominal pain,
- Severe leg pain, or
- Shortness of breath.
Keep in mind that this situation is rare: 6 known cases out of more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine administered in the United States. However, it is important to be aware of this risk and to seek medical care if you have any of these symptoms. I applaud the CDC and FDA on their speed and transparency in responding to this emerging condition.
Stay safe and well,
Dr. B