PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The country’s only single-dose coronavirus vaccine will soon be back in rotation.
The CDC and FDA have lifted the hiatus on Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
While the CDC Advisory Board has not recommended any new restrictions based on age or gender, the vaccine is being updated with a new label stating that women under the age of 50 should be aware of the risk of blood clots.
The committee concluded that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the possible risks, pointing out that up to 45 adults could suffer a clot but up to 1,400 lives could be saved.
Use of the vaccine was suspended after six cases of blood clots were reported in pre-menopausal women.
Since then, CBS News has learned of nine more potential cases, all in women. Three died and seven remained in the hospital.
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These 15 cases are from more than 7 million people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States.
“I think it’s important to point out that this is a treatable condition if you spot it right away,” said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institute of Health.
“It was good to have this break to let everyone know, so that all doctors know that this is something to look out for,” said Dr. Collins.
FDA officials say the agency will continue to work with the CDC to monitor the vaccine for more cases and update the guidelines as more information becomes available.
That decision puts more than 9 million doses of the vaccine back in the pipeline. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has told vaccine administrators to restart using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately.
Health officials say there are four main blood clot symptoms that people know and should look out for, including:
- shortness of breath
- stomach pain
- Strong headache
- Leg pain
These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious problem.
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