US CDC panel votes to recommend COVID-19 mRNA vaccine over J&J Coronavirus pandemic News

The U.S. briefly suspended its use of COVID in April before it was found to have far-reaching but very rare but deadly risks.

A group of outside counselors at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have voted to recommend that Americans receive one of two other COVID-19 vaccines over Johnson & Johnson’s shooting, which is rare but sometimes fatal. cases of blood clotting.

The CDC’s Immunization Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to make a recommendation. The policy has yet to be signed by the regulator.

Fewer Americans have received a J&J shot with a significant difference than the other two vaccines. Of the more than 200 million people fully vaccinated in the United States, about 16 million received the J&J vaccine, according to CDC data.

Cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which involve blood clotting along with low platelet levels, have been reported by J&J vaccine recipients. The highest reporting rates are among women under 50 years of age.

The CDC said the rate of such incidents is higher than previously estimated, both for women and men. The agency has identified more than 50 TTS cases in the U.S., with about 3.83 cases per million J&J doses administered.

At least nine people have died as a result of blood clotting in the United States, the CDC said.

Panel members also said the J&J vaccine is no more effective than the other two vaccines allowed to prevent COVID-19.

In a presentation to the commission, a senior vaccine scientist at J&J said the vaccine elicits a strong and lasting immune response with a single shot.

“In a situation where many people do not return to give a second dose or booster, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine durability as a dominant regimen can make a crucial difference in saving lives in the U.S. and around the world,” J&J said. Dr. Penny Heaton said.

In the U.S., the shot has been useful to populations and environments that are difficult for vaccines to reach, such as the homeless and residents of correctional facilities.

The J&J vaccine uses technology based on a modified version of an adenovirus to boost the immunity of the recipients, and the other two authorized vaccines use RNA messenger technology.

J & J’s single-dose vaccine has been received emergency use permit at the end of February. In April, U.S. regulators suspended the administration of the vaccine for 10 days to investigate blood clotting.

A CDC scientist said Thursday that the TTS death rate had not dropped since the April break.

J&J shares closed about 1 percent on the New York Stock Exchange. The company sells the vaccine at a non-profit price, so it has not been a major source of revenue.