Feds Give Johnson and Johnson Vaccines a Green Light

Federal regulators have given the green light to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to resume its coronavirus vaccinations. Agreeing with a recommendation from a federal advisory panel that the shot’s benefits outweigh its risks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told J&J they can resume immediately. The two agencies had jointly recommended a nationwide pause 10 days ago, but today accepted the recommendation from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Vaccination sites across the country should be able start administering the shots as early as this weekend.

During a press conference, acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said “This is not a decision the agencies reached lightly. Medical and scientific teams of both the FDA and CDC reviewed several sources of information and data related to the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to reach today’s assessment.”

The FDA will update fact sheets given to patients at the vaccination site, as well as instructions for vaccine providers and health providers that include warnings of the risk of a rare complication involving blood clots in women under the age of 50.

The J&J vaccines were paused on April 18 after federal health experts noticed a rare blood clot that had arisen among recipients.