US Faces Dilemma Over Handling Janssen Vaccines Near Expiration Date

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The United States is struggling with how to handle the stock of Janssen's COVID-19 vaccines nearing their expiration date.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 8th (local time) that the stock of Janssen vaccines in the U.S. set to expire at the end of this month amounts to several million doses.

The stock of Janssen vaccines began to surge after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) temporarily suspended the use of Janssen vaccines in April due to concerns over blood clot side effects.

Although U.S. health authorities decided to resume use after ten days, concerns remain. WSJ stated, "Reservations were massively canceled due to the suspension recommendation, and even after the resumption decision, rebookings have not been made."

Medical institutions are encouraging Janssen vaccine administration, but there is no clear effect. Additionally, the slowing pace of vaccinations in the U.S. is also impacting the situation. A hospital official said, "It is realistically difficult to deplete the stock by the end of this month."

According to state governments and hospitals, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines also have stocks nearing expiration, but the amount of Janssen vaccines is much larger. WSJ reported, "Of the 21.4 million doses supplied to date by the U.S. government, only about half have been used," adding, "83% of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines delivered have been used."

There are opinions in the U.S. about donating Janssen vaccines nearing expiration to foreign countries. However, WSJ explained that even if sent abroad immediately, there is no guarantee vaccinations will be completed by the end of this month, and administering expired vaccines could cause bigger problems, making this option difficult.

The U.S. government provided 1,012,800 doses of Janssen vaccines to South Korea on the 22nd of last month as a follow-up to the Korea-U.S. summit. This is the first time Janssen vaccines have been introduced into the country.

The government will begin Janssen vaccine administration from the 10th. This vaccination will take place at nationwide designated medical institutions until the 20th. If there are leftover vaccines, vaccination opportunities will be given on the same day to the general public aged 30 and over (born on or before December 31, 1991) who have made reservations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.