The CDC is investigating a “handful” of possible additional cases of serious side effects related to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the bureau chief said Monday.
Use of the single-dose COVID-19 vaccine was discontinued in the US last week amid reports that six women in the country developed dangerous blood clots – including one who died – after receiving the immunization.
CDC chief Dr. Rochelle Walensky – asked at a White House press conference if there were any further reports of “serious side effects” related to J&J doses in the US – replied, “There have been a handful of cases – not an overwhelming number of cases.
“We go through them and assess them and check that they do indeed reflect a real case,” she said.
Nearly 7 million Americans received the vaccine before the federal government pushed for it to be discontinued, at least temporarily, until the CDC and FDA can conduct further investigations.