CVS and Walgreens are slated to begin administering the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine again after the federal government temporarily pressed pause on the use of the vaccine due to concerns about blood clots developing in a small number of inoculated women, WCVB reported.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration announced Friday the federal government will resume the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC and FDA had recommended the pause out of an abundance of caution due to the extremely rare but severe type of blood clot, called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST, reported in six women nationwide.
“Above all else, health and safety are at the forefront of our decisions,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement. “Our vaccine safety systems are working. We identified exceptionally rare events — out of millions of doses of the Janssen COVID-19 administered — and we paused to examine them more carefully. As we always do, we will continue to watch all signals closely as more Americans are vaccinated.”
Following a thorough safety review, including two meetings of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the two agencies determined the recommended suspension of the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the U.S. should be lifted.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is now notifying all vaccine providers they may resume administering the Johnson & Johnson shot immediately, according to Kate Reilly, a spokeswoman for the state’s COVID-19 Response Command Center.
The number of vaccinated individuals who developed CVST and thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet counts, has since grown to 15, according to the CDC. Three of the patients have died, and seven remain hospitalized, Bloomberg reported. All the women are between the ages of 18 and 59.
Medical and scientific teams at the CDC and FDA examined available data to assess the risk of thrombosis involving the rare type of blood clot in the brain and other sites in the body, including the abdomen and legs. They also looked at information about the presence of thrombocytopenia.
The teams conducted extensive outreach to providers and clinicians to ensure they were made aware of the potential for the adverse events and could properly manage and recognize them. The combination of the rare blood clot and low platelets, known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome, requires a unique treatment, the agencies noted.
The CDC and FDA found the data showed the Johnson & Johnson shot’s known and potential benefits outweigh its risks in people 18 years of age and older, noting they’re confident the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing the virus.
At this time, the available data suggests the chance of TTS developing is very low, but the FDA and CDC said they will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk.
“I continue to be encouraged by the growing body of real-world evidence that the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they protect people from disease, hospitalization, and death,” Walensky said. “I urge anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines to speak with their healthcare provider or local public health department.”
Related Content:
"again" - Google News
April 26, 2021 at 06:09PM
https://ift.tt/3ezb6Ze
CVS, Walgreens to start administering Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine again - MassLive.com
"again" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2YsuQr6
https://ift.tt/2KUD1V2
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "CVS, Walgreens to start administering Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine again - MassLive.com"
Post a Comment