Possibility of Janssen Vaccination Target Reduction in the US: "Considering Excluding Women Under 50"

Illustration of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and syringe placed in front of the J&J logo
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected to potentially narrow the target group for Johnson & Johnson (J&J)'s COVID-19 vaccine, Janssen.

On the 15th (local time), CNN reported that the CDC's advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will hold a meeting on the 16th to reconsider recommendations for the use of the Janssen vaccine, with the possibility of excluding women under 50 from the vaccination target group.

However, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky did not disclose the reason for the ACIP meeting regarding the Janssen vaccine during a White House briefing that day, stating, "ACIP holds meetings intermittently to review safety data for all vaccines."

Currently, the Janssen vaccine is authorized for use in individuals aged 18 and older in the U.S., and it is also permitted as a booster shot for those who have completed vaccination with Janssen, Pfizer, or Moderna vaccines.

At the meeting, ACIP is expected to receive reports related to thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare side effect associated with the Janssen vaccine. Sources told CNN that the incidence of thrombosis is highest among women aged 30 to 49.

They explained, "The discussion will mainly focus on whether it is necessary to continue using the Janssen vaccine given the availability of other vaccines, and if continued use is warranted, whether it should be limited to certain age groups."

The CDC recommends informing women under 50 that while the risk of TTS with the Janssen vaccine is rare, it may be higher compared to other groups, and that alternative vaccination options are available. The AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a similar method as the Janssen vaccine, is not used in the U.S.

According to the FDA, TTS has been rarely reported in men and women aged 18 and older who received the Janssen vaccine, with an incidence rate of about 1 case per 100,000 among women aged 30 to 49.

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