US CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Pfizer or Moderna Over Janssen Due to Blood Clot Risk

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a revised recommendation favoring Pfizer or Moderna vaccines over the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. This is due to the higher risk of rare thrombotic disorders following the Janssen vaccine, and vaccination is not recommended when other vaccine options are available.

According to foreign media including CNBC on the 16th (local time), ACIP held a meeting and unanimously approved the revised recommendation stating that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are preferred over the Janssen vaccine. ACIP announced, "For COVID-19 prevention in adults aged 18 and over, mRNA vaccines are preferred over Janssen." Previously, since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Janssen vaccine in February, more than 17 million doses of the Janssen vaccine have been administered in the U.S.

The reason ACIP announced the revised recommendation is analyzed to be due to recent data showing frequent occurrences of rare thrombotic side effects in Janssen vaccine recipients. Earlier, the CDC reported that 54 Americans developed thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receiving the Janssen vaccine. Among them, 9 died, and 36 are known to be receiving treatment in intensive care units.

ACIP advisor and Vanderbilt University professor Cape Talbot explained, "Reports of TTS caused by the Janssen vaccine have appeared at higher rates than previously estimated and occur across various age groups regardless of gender." According to CDC statistics, the death rate after Janssen vaccination is 0.57 per one million doses administered.

However, in countries or regions where there are no alternatives to the Janssen vaccine, the benefits of vaccination are considered to outweigh the risks, and vaccination should not be halted. ACIP advisor Dr. Sarah Oliver stated, "In situations where vaccine options are unavailable, the benefits of receiving the Janssen vaccine outweigh the risks. This is very important in areas with insufficient vaccine supply." She added, "In places like the U.S., where mRNA vaccines are widely available, mRNA vaccines may be preferred due to the risk concerns associated with the Janssen vaccine."

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