The Concerning Side Effect Associated With Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 Vaccine
Medina Iljazi
Currently, the state of the Covid-19 pandemic has steadily improved thanks to the consistent vaccine rollout causing restrictions to be lifted. The United States of America currently offers three vaccine options, one of which is being offered from the Johnson & Johnson company. The company is the latest to create and supply their own Covid-19 vaccine. The vaccine was quickly distributed by the U.S. government to meet high demands. But, in April, it was discovered that the vaccine carried a side effect that was previously unknown.
On April 13th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDC) released a statement that addressed a critical problem with J&J’s vaccine - a type of blood clot called Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST). The rare blood clot is known to result in serious side effects, such as severe headache, leg swelling, and shortness of breath. According to the CDC’s statement on their website, of the 6 million people who received the vaccine, six women were reported to have developed the rare blood clot. Each of the women were between the ages of 18 and 48 and experienced the effects of the blood clot between six and thirteen days of being vaccinated. While the CDC and FDC acknowledge the rarity of the clot, the FDC recommended a halt on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution process.
The pause on Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine was lifted after about two weeks. From now on, all J&J vaccines will have a warning label about the possibility of developing CVST. The CDC was the one responsible for the decision after their advisors recommended the resumption of vaccine distribution.
Currently, the J&J vaccine has been made available throughout the country once again. While the J&J vaccine may seem like the vaccine to avoid due to its history, it is not a bad option to consider. In an article by YaleMedicine about the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, it was reported that the CVST blood clot is extremely rare, and the likelihood of developing CVST after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is considerably low. Unlike other vaccine options, the J&J vaccines only require one shot and don’t need to be stored in extremely cold temperatures.
The CDC still stresses the importance of doing your own research to decide which vaccine is right for you.
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