WASHINGTON (AP) β U.S. lifts pause, allowing Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations to resume.
The CDC and FDA released a joint statement on Friday, April 23rd to say they will continue to keep a close eye on possible side effects, but for now encourage Americans to continue receiving their shots of the Janssen vaccine.
βAbove all else, health and safety are at the forefront of our decisions,β said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky. βOur vaccine safety systems are working. We identified exceptionally rare events β out of millions of doses of the Janssen COVID-19 administered β and we paused to examine them more carefully. As we always do, we will continue to watch all signals closely as more Americans are vaccinated. I continue to be encouraged by the growing body of real-world evidence that the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they protect people from disease, hospitalization, and death. I urge anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines to speak with their healthcare provider or local public health department.β
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control responded to this announcement in a statement saying the potential benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the known and potential risks.
South Carolina health officials urge residents who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccine to do so, and get their Janssen, Moderna, or Pfizer shots as soon as possible.
Health officials say COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and they are helping save lives.
