CDC sees more cases of thrombosis associated with Johnson & Johnson vaccine

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According to CDC officials, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified 11 more serious blood clots among Americans vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson COVID-19. As a result, the total number of cases is 28 out of about 8.7 million, which is an increase from the 17 cases recorded as of April 25.

The numbers suggest that these blood clots are very rare, but said Dr. Tom Shimabukuro, who heads the CDC’s COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring network. NBC news On Wednesday, there is a plausible “causal relationship” between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome: low platelet levels and the presence of blood clots.

The thrombosis event was the main catalyst behind the federal government pause Six women reportedly developed a blood clot after vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in April. One was fatal, a 45-year-old woman with no risk factors vaccinated and developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with bleeding. All five other blood coagulation events were also reported in women aged 26-59 years.

In total, 19 patients developed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Most blood clotting events occurred in women aged 19-49 years, but six occurred in men, with symptoms occurring 3-15 days after vaccination, according to NBC reports.

As of Wednesday, four patients were hospitalized, one was in the intensive care unit, and three died. Two were sent to a post-acute care facility and 19 were discharged home.

The government lifted the suspension of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on April 23.

What is the impact

To date, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines have been given 135 million doses of the former and 110 million doses of the latter, but have not had blood clotting problems. However, the concerns are similar to those raised for the AstraZeneca vaccine being used abroad rather than in the United States.

In April the European Medicines Agency Possible links Between thrombi combined with AstraZeneca vaccine and low platelets.

The CDC’s discovery that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may have a causal link to blood clotting is somewhat inconsistent with a study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine. Little evidence Of such an association. Scientists working at Johnson & Johnson said that of the 75,000 participants in the clinical trial, only one case of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.

In a letter, J & J scientists state that cases of blood clots “occur within published background rates.” In other words, it occurs at an almost normal rate in the general population.

“We continue to work closely with experts and regulators to evaluate the data and support the open communication of this information to healthcare professionals and the general public,” the scientists write.

Big trend

The J & J vaccine issue began in early April at vaccination sites in North Carolina and Colorado. Temporarily shut down After an unusual number of side effects on the vaccine.

Eleven people at the Dick’s Sporting Goods vaccination site in Commerce City, Colorado, experienced harmful side effects ranging from dizziness to nausea. The North Carolina site was closed after the patient reported a similar response.

At that time, there was no reason to believe that there was something wrong with the vaccine itself. Colorado public health officials said there were no signs of problems with the single-dose delivery.

After that, a case of thrombosis occurred. Although they are still considered very rare, the vaccine has been withheld and federal officials have emphasized that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are well-supplied.

In addition to cases of blood clotting, there have recently been concerns about anxiety-inducing reactions to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC said in May that the initial closure of vaccination sites in five states was associated with these events, but these symptoms may be due to problems with the patient’s existing anxiety, not the vaccine itself. He said it was highly sexual. report..

Overall, 64 anxiety-related events among 8,624 recipients, including 17 incidences of syncope, were reported from these sites of vaccines administered April 7-9. The CDC’s discovery was that anxiety-related events, including syncope, could occur shortly after vaccination and could be caused by anxiety about receiving injections.

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