Philly Health Commish Reacts To Johnson & Johnson Recommendation

PHILADELPHIA — The CDC recently recommended the two-dose Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, instead of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole has responded to the recommendation.

According to the CDC, Johnson & Johnson vaccine administration was paused when a risk of potentially fatal blood clots was discovered in those who received it. When this side effect was first discovered identified in middle-aged women in April 2021, the federal government ordered a “pause” on administering the vaccine. After reviewing the data, the federal government found that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risk and “unpaused” administration of the vaccine.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed data collected since then and found the number of cases of the side effect was higher than expected though still extremely rare, affecting 54 people out of 14,000,000 doses administered through August, and was found in men as well as women. It was found that nine people in the United States died from the blood clotting side effect. None of those deaths were in Philadelphia. The new data prompted today’s update.

"Today’s news about the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine fortunately only applies to that vaccine, which is not related to the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines," Bettigole said. "It’s important to remember that no one who experienced the blood clotting side effect did so more than two weeks after they got their Johnson & Johnson vaccine, so if it’s been longer than that, you should be okay. If you recently received a first dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last four weeks, seek immediate medical care if you experience certain symptoms."

New recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine look out for the following symptoms:

• severe headache
• backache
• new neurologic symptoms
• severe abdominal pain
• shortness of breath
• leg swelling
• tiny red spots on the skin (petechiae)
• new or easy bruising

"The Johnson & Johnson vaccine works differently than either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, and this blood clotting side effect has not been seen in people who got those vaccines," she said. "I still strongly recommend that everyone who is eligible get every dose of COVID vaccine that they are eligible to receive as soon as possible. People who are younger than 60 should seek out either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, rather than J&J."