FDA and CDC Lift Recommended Pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine Use Following Thorough Safety Review

Following a thorough safety review, including two meetings of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have determined that the recommended pause regarding the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine in the US should be lifted and use of the vaccine should resume. The FDA and CDC have reviewed all of the available data, including new information since their recommendation to pause the use of the vaccine. Those data, plus the deliberations and recommendations of CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), helped with their assessment that the known and potential benefits of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older. At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of this serious adverse event occurring is very low, but investigation into the level of potential excess risk due to vaccination is ongoing.

The Student Health Center encourages Pepperdine community members to get any of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines that they have access to and can receive based on their eligibility criteria and personal medical history. The best COVID-19 vaccine is the first one that is available to you. Do not wait for a specific brand. All currently authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, and reduce your risk of severe illness. The CDC does not recommend one vaccine over another.

Read the full CDC/FDA statement.