On Tuesday, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Statement regarding the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine. Out of an abundance of caution, the FDA and CDC recommended a pause in the use of this vaccine while we review the data from six reported cases in the U.S. of a rare and severe type of blood clot in people who received the vaccine. This pause was recommended, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot. 

The FDA added three questions about the recommended pause in the use of this vaccine to the Janssen COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions webpage and provided additional information and answered questions, Tuesday during an online media briefing. A recording of the call can be found on YouTube by clicking here.

American Medical Association President, Susan R. Bailey, MD, hosted a conversation with Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of its ongoing webinar series for physicians on COVID-19 vaccines. The most recent webinar focused on the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.  You can view the webinar at this link.

An Emergency ACIP meeting will be held to discuss the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine next Friday, April 23, 2021, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET. The webcast link of the meeting can be found here.