A panel of external advisors to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for Covid-19 be preferred over that of Johnson & Johnson, for all adults, due to the rare but fatal side effects observed.
The Immunization Advisory Committee voted unanimously on this recommendation, which is non-binding and will have to be approved by the CDC.
Cases of thrombocytopenic syndrome (TTS) have been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine, especially in women under 50 years of age. The CDC estimates that this syndrome is more common than previously thought, in both women and men. At least 9 people have died in the United States from thrombosis syndrome.
The committee also found that the J&J vaccine was less effective than the other two in preventing Covid-19. However, they believe that the vaccine should remain available, especially for those people for whom messenger RNA vaccines are contraindicated (due to allergic reactions) or if the latter are not available.
If no other vaccine is available, that of J&J provides more benefits to Covid-19 than risks, said Sarah Oliver, CDC data presenter.
“I would not recommend J&J to my family members,” said Beth Bell, a member of the committee. “On the other hand, we have to recognize that different people make different choices, and if they are properly informed, I do not think we should deprive them of that opportunity,” he added.
Of the estimated 200 million fully vaccinated Americans, about 16 million were vaccinated by J&J, according to CDC figures.
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