U.S. health advisers are recommending that most Americans get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot.
Thursday’s recommendation came after government advisers reviewed new safety data about rare but potentially life-threatening blood clots linked to J&J’s shot.
“We have made important strides in the year since the COVID-19 vaccination program started, CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. "More than 200 million Americans have completed their primary vaccine series, providing protection against COVID-19, preventing millions of cases and hospitalizations, and saving over a million lives. Today’s updated recommendation emphasizes CDC’s commitment to provide real-time scientific information to the American public. I continue to encourage all Americans to get vaccinated and boosted.”
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines don’t come with this risk and are widely available.
Of the 200 million fully vaccinated Americans, only a small fraction - about 16 million - got the J&J option.
Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to accept the unusual recommendation.
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