FDA limits authorized use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine over blood clot concerns

The U.S. Food and Drug administration announced limits on the authorized use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, citing concerns over rare and potentially life-threatening blood clots that can be a side effect of the vaccine.

The authorized use of the vaccine is now limited to individuals 18 and older for whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate and to adults who choose to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because they do not want to take another one.

According to the FDA, an analysis of reported vaccine side effects has determined there is a risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which causes blood clots in combination with low levels of blood platelets. Symptoms of the side effect can appear approximately one to two weeks after an individual receives the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the FDA said.

But there are some people the FDA says should still be eligible to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, such as those who have had a severe allergic reaction to the mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna, those who object to taking an mRNA vaccine, or those with limited access to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. – READ MORE