FDA restricts use of J&J’s COVID vaccine due to blood clot risks

File / eExtra News

Officials on Thursday have issued restrictions on who can receive the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of serious blood clots.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the shot should only be given to adults who can’t receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, or those who specifically request it. The FDA’s vaccine chief, Dr. Peter Marks, said this decision comes after they took a look at the data on the risks of life-threatening blood clots directly related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“If there’s an alternative that appears to be equally effective in preventing severe outcomes from COVID-19, we’d rather see people opting for that,” Marks said. “But we’ve been careful to say that – compared to no vaccine – this is still a better option.”

Marks added the problem occurs within the first two weeks following the vaccination of the Johnson & Johnson shot, “So if you had the vaccine six months ago you can sleep soundly tonight knowing this isn’t an issue [for you].”

Data indicates the problem is more common in women under 50, where the death rate is roughly 1 per 1 million shots.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will now carry a starker warning about potential “long-term and debilitating health consequences” related to the blood clotting side effect.