The CDC and FDA recommended a pause in the adminstrion of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as they investigate reports of a blood clotting disorder found in 6 women across the United States.
Over 6.8 million doses of the J&J have been administered with little to no side effect.
The pause came Tuesday, April 13, 2021, with an expected update in the coming days for discontinuation or continued use.
Healthcare providers are advised to utilize alternative treatment in case of blood clots regarding the J&J vaccine. Heparin is not recommended. This recommendation comes from issues regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine being only available in Europe. The European authorities investigating the AstraZeneca cases have concluded that the blood clots appear like a rare abnormal immune response that can stroke people who are treated with heparin.
Both the J&J and the AstraZeneca vaccine use the same technology, utilizing an adenovirus to carry the spike gene into the body.
There is approximately 9 million single-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine awaiting administration throughout the United States.
