PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) - The CDC’s vaccine advisory board is recommending the resumption of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
However, they are doing it with a warning that would address the rare blood clots combined with a low platelet count.
Johnson and Johnson Dr. Joanne Waldstreicher said anyone getting the shot would get an explanation of the symptoms.
“It talks about bloodclots involving vessels in the brain," she said. "It talks about how it’s occurred in some people who have received the vaccine.”
CDC officials said there have been three deaths and 15 known cases, all women, among the nearly 8 million people who have received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
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Health officials in the meeting say it is still unclear exactly what causes the issue.
While the committee wrestled with the best way to get the blood clot concerns across, many members also discussed the challenge of overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
Dr. Beth Bell, a committee member from the University of Washington, noted the system worked as it was supposed to, triggering a pause when a rare event raised red flags.
“It’s a paradox that by recognizing and detecting and acting on a very rare risk, which should in fact inspire vaccine confidence, perhaps it has the opposite effect," Bell admitted.
It will now be up to the FDA, CDC and state health departments to determine exactly when to resume the use of the vaccine.
Pfizer and Moderna are a different kind of vaccine and have not had any similar issue.
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