In what is certain to go down in history as the Biden Administration’s stupidest idea of the year, top health officials have paused distribution of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine after an insignificant number of patients developed a severe type of blood clot known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).
CVST has been reported by just 6 of the nearly 7 million people to receive the J&J shot. Of those 6, only 1 person has died.
Despite such incredible rarity, FDA and CDC officials are recommending a “pause” in the use of the J&J vaccine until they complete a thorough review.
“COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously,” said FDA official Peter Marks and CDC official Anne Schuchat in a joint statement.
“That said, the pandemic is quite severe and cases are increasing in a lot of places and vaccination is critical, so we want to make sure that we make some recommendations quickly,” added Schuchat.
In a statement published by the Save America PAC, former President Donald Trump criticized the decision to suspend the J&J vaccine as a “terrible disservice to the world” that would permanently damage the drug’s reputation and exacerbate vaccine hesitancy. Trump went on to note the FDA’s suspicious decision to announce approval of the Pfizer vaccine just two days after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
“The FDA, especially with long-time bureaucrats within, has to be controlled,” argues Trump. “They should not be able to do such damage for possibly political reasons, or maybe because their friends at Pfizer have suggested it.”
Johnson & Johnson acknowledged the “extremely rare” side effect. The company agreed to “proactively delay the rollout” of its vaccine in Europe as it works with medical experts and health authorities.
All federal agencies in the United States have immediately paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. States have been encouraged to follow suit.
In the meantime, anyone who develops the following symptoms within three weeks of receiving the J&J vaccine should contact a doctor: severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath
Author’s Note: This decision makes no sense. Since when has any doctor been so afraid of a rare side effect that he stops prescribing a lucrative and effective drug? Since when has the safety of six individuals taken priority over the health of an entire nation?
Sources:
US health officials call for J&J vaccine pause over rare blood clots
Trump Slams Biden for J&J Vaccine Pause: ‘Terrible Disservice’ to World
CDC and FDA recommend US pause use of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine over blood clot concerns