This decision, announced by the Centers for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (CDC), deals a blow to the remedy of NOT A WORD, to which nine deaths have been attributed in the country. Despite everything, it will remain available, especially for people for whom messenger RNA vaccines are contraindicated, for example due to allergic reactions.
Today’s updated recommendation highlights the commitment of CDC to provide real-time scientific information to the American population
, said the director of CDC, Rochelle Walensky, in a press release.
Earlier, a committee of independent experts called on US health authorities to recommend prioritizing the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna over that from Johnson & Johnson for all adults.
Johnson & Johnson poses higher health risks
Their vote came after the publication of new data on cases of thrombosis (formation of blood clots) after vaccination with Johnson & Johnson.
In a context where Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines are now widely available, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalization, but presents higher health risks, summarized Sara Oliver, responsible for presenting the data for the CDC.
However, experts felt that the NOT A WORD should remain available, especially for people for whom messenger RNA vaccines are contraindicated or if these are not available.
Experts were unwilling to outright advise against Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine also because of concerns about the impact such a move could have outside of the United States, where vaccine supplies may vary.
If no other vaccine is available, that of NOT A WORD always presents more benefits in the face of COVID-19 than risks, recalled Sara Oliver.
I would not recommend Johnson & Johnson to any of my family
committee member Beth Bell said during the meeting Thursday. On the other hand, we have to recognize that different people make different choices and if they are properly informed, I don’t think we should take that away from them.
Thrombosis and death
As of the end of August, 54 cases of thrombosis linked to vaccination with Johnson & Johnson had been identified in the United States, out of more than 14 million doses administered. All required hospitalization, including 36 in intensive care.
By early December, nine deaths had been identified. Overall, one in seven cases has been fatal.
The risk is increased in women aged 30 to 49, with one case per 100,000 doses administered.
But it also concerns other categories of the population. Among the nine deaths are two men.
US health officials recommended a halt in the use of the vaccine in April. NOT A WORD in order to investigate the appearance of these cases of thrombosis, but had finally given the green light to the resumption of vaccinations. They had, however, already included a warning in this regard in the emergency authorization of the vaccine.
