BREAKING: US and Europe Suspends Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Rollout 13/04/2021

13/04/2021
BREAKING: US and Europe Suspends Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Rollout

The rollout of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine across Europe has been delayed, while US officials have recommended a "pause" in the use of the jab as reports of blood clots are investigated.

The healthcare giant said on Tuesday it had "made the decision to proactively delay the rollout of our vaccine in Europe".

It comes after officials from America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they are looking into six reported cases "of a rare & severe type of blood clot" in women aged 18 to 48 including three women who developed clots in the sinuses that drain blood from the brain.

Another case came in a clinical trial. One of the cases was fatal.

The symptoms occurred six to 13 days after they received the jab.

The FDA and CDC said in a joint statement: “People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their healthcare provider.”

The AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is also being investigated over blood clot cases, and several countries have advised against using the vaccine on young recipients.