The rate of blood clots among J&J vaccinated individuals is literally less than one in a million – Dr. Stephanie Silvera
By Marivir R. Montebon
Cliffside Park – An epidemiologist here assuaged public anxiety over the blood clot side effects of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, citing that these cases were extremely low and that government has immediately paused its roll-out to ensure that risks were low.
Dr. Stephanie Silvera, epidemiologist and professor in the Public Health Department at Montclair State University said that the issue is being taken seriously and examined by the company and the government “to assure that the risks are as low as possible.”
Silvera further explained: “The first thing to remember is that the number of cases of people developing blood clots is incredibly small compared to the number of people who have been vaccinated. In addition, there is no evidence as of right now that the vaccine caused the blood clots. Right now, the rate of blood clots among J&J vaccinated individuals is literally less than one in a million. To put this in context, the risk of developing a blood clot for women on birth control is over 1000 times higher than the risk of developing a blood clot after receiving the J&J vaccine. So while I understand the concern, the fact is that a lot of other medications and vaccinations have much higher risk profiles, but, like them, the COVID-19 vaccine benefits far outweigh the risks.”
With the temporary pause of the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the New Jersey Department of Health said it will work with all vaccination sites to make arrangements for the administration of an alternative two-dose vaccine for those who have been scheduled for the J&J vaccine.
Commissioner Judith Persichilli of the New Jersey Department of Health said Monday: “Out of an abundance of caution and following the guidance of the CDC and FDA, the New Jersey Department of Health paused on Monday the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine across all vaccination sites in the state.”
The CDC and FDA are currently reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) coronavirus vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.
Both the CDC and FDA have said that these adverse events are extremely rare. The CDC is convening a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on April 14, 2021, to further review these cases and assess their potential significance.
According to the FDA and CDC, individuals who have received the vaccine and develop abdominal pain, leg pain, shortness of breath, severe headache or other unusual symptoms within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. (With reports from Center for Cooperative Media.)
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