As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends mRNA vaccines over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine linked to a blot clot issue that has been connected to at least nine deaths.
Pfizer BioNTech and Moderna make two-dose mRNA vaccines approved for use in the U.S. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single dose. Booster shots have also been approved for all three vaccines.
During an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting held Thursday, Dr. Isaac See of the CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force shared a presentation about thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome and the Johnson & Johnson shots. As of Dec. 9, nine deaths were connected to condition in patients age 28 to 62 who received the vaccine, according to the presentation.
Of those patients, seven had underlying medical conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Another two deaths could also be added to the list pending further investigation and dozens of patients became severely ill after receiving the vaccine.
“ACIP’s unanimous recommendation followed a robust discussion of the latest evidence on vaccine effectiveness, vaccine safety and rare adverse events, and consideration of the U.S. vaccine supply,” said a CDC statement released after the meeting. “The U.S. supply of mRNA vaccines is abundant – with nearly 100 million doses in the field for immediate use.”
According to the CDC, Canada and the United Kingdom have also issued similar advisories.
While the centers recommend Pfizer and Moderna vaccines over Johnson & Johnson shots, officials also said “receiving any vaccine is better than being unvaccinated,” and that the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will still be available.
“Johnson & Johnson remains confident in the overall positive benefit-risk profile of its COVID-19 vaccine,” said the pharmaceutical company in a statement issued after the ACIP meeting. “Studies have shown that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine generates strong antibody and cellular immune responses and long-lasting immune memory and breadth of protection across variants.”
“We have made important strides in the year since the COVID-19 vaccination program started. More than 200 million Americans have completed their primary vaccine series, providing protection against COVID-19, preventing millions of cases and hospitalizations, and saving over a million lives,” said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. “Today’s updated recommendation emphasizes CDC’s commitment to provide real-time scientific information to the American public. I continue to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated and boosted.”
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