THE CDC is confirming a “rare” link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and 100 cases of auto-immune disease Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The shot has recently been linked to the serious, but very rare, side effect – which is a condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves.
The rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been plagued by problems
Around 100 preliminary reports of the condition have been detected, after the administration of 12.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement Monday.
According to Washington Post reports, the cases have largely been reported about two weeks after vaccination, and mostly in men, many aged 50 and older.
The warning on the single-dose vaccine comes as the latest blow to the vaccine, which has been widely anticipated for its ease of use but has been plagued by problems.
The vaccine faced massive recalls in April 2021 after six women in the US developed a rare blood-clotting disorder.
And last month, 60million doses of Johnson & Johnson were discarded, as per demands from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
People familiar with the situation told The New York Times that the shots were thrown out due to potential contamination.
Available data does not not show a pattern suggesting a similar increased risk Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines – of which more than 321 million doses have been administered in the United States.
Cases of Guillain-Barré are expected to be discussed as part of an upcoming meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the organisation has said.
While the cause of the syndrome is unknown, it frequently follows infection with a virus, including influenza or bacteria.
Each year in the United States, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 develop the illness, according to CDC data.
While most sufferers fully recover from the illness, some have permanent nerve damage, according to the CDC.
Officials are expected to emphasize that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is still thought to be safe, and that its benefits clearly outweigh the potential risks – according to those familiar with the situation.
While reports of Guillain-Barré were rare, the CDC said evidence does “likely indicate a small possible risk of this side effect following” the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Reports of the syndrome were made to an early-warning safety system run by CDC and FDA, the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, which collects information about possible side effects or health problems after vaccination.
There have been incidents where people have suffered a serious reaction to their Covid jab, but this has been a very small percentage of those vaccinated.
Reacting badly to any vaccination is very rare, with any side effects usually minimal.
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