FDA restricts who can receive Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

Regulators placed limits Thursday on who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, saying only certain adults should get the shot The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the new restrictions were necessary because of the potential for rare blood clots.

According to the FDA, the vaccine should only be given to adults who are not able to receive Moderna and Pfizer vaccines due to new found data that showed an increased risk of life-threatening blood clots.

The agency said the only adults who cannot or will not get the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines should receive the J&J shot due to new data showing a risk of ‘life-threatening blood clots.’

Though some Americans sought out the J&J vaccine because it only required one dose, there has been an ongoing conversation about the shot’s efficacy and risks. The FDA’s announcement follows a December recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control that Americans get the Pfizer or Moderna shots instead of J&J’s vaccine.