Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine is facing a double dose of problems. Georgia is the third state temporarily disabled a vaccination site after eight people had adverse reactions to the shot.
Earlier this week, 18 people in North Carolina reported side effects, while 11 people in Colorado responded to the shot with symptoms ranging from dizziness, nausea, and fainting.
“This is a really powerful vaccine, and what we’re seeing is some of that potency related to a very rare side effect that we just need to be aware of,” said Dr. David Agus, a medical officer for CBS News.
All three major US vaccines caused side effects in more than 60,000 people nationwide. For each manufacturer – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – only one-tenth of 1% of all people have reported side effects.
Another problem facing Johnson & Johnson is distribution. The company is in the process of slashing shipments to states by 86% next week.
Meanwhile, Michigan is experiencing terrible deja vu as some hospital intensive care units are nearly full.
“We all know what works and this has to be a team effort. We have to do this together. Lives depend on it,” said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer calls for a two-week break for indoor eating, personal learning for high schools, and youth sports – a driving factor in new cases in children.
Pfizer is the first company to apply for an emergency authorization extension to give its vaccine to children as young as 12 years old.
In California, thousands were turned away after being told to show up at one site with extra doses. In New York City, variants comprise nearly 80% of new daily cases, 45% of which are domestically. Another 30% is powered by the variant first discovered in the UK, which is believed to be up to 70% more contagious and deadly.
Agus warns Americans not to panic.
“The current vaccines out there in public places work against all variants,” said the CBS News medical officer. ‘Science prevails here. And that is why I think that by June we will overcome this virus in the United States and reach a new normal here. ‘