Recommendation to Pause Use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

On April 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. Of the nearly 7 million doses administered so far in the United States, a small number of cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot have been reported in people after receiving the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine. All reports occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination. As of April 13, 2021, no cases have been reported among the more than 180 million people who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. Learn more on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage.

What if I got this vaccine?

• If you got this vaccine more than three weeks ago, your risk of developing a blood clot is very low.
• If you got this vaccine within the last three weeks, your risk of developing a blood clot is also very low. However, you should be on the lookout for possible symptoms of a blood clot:
  • Severe headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Fainting
  • Seizures
  • Pain in your abdomen (chest or stomach)
  • Leg pain or swelling
  • Shortness of breath

Get medical care right away if you have any of these symptoms and got the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine within the last few weeks. If you have any questions, call your health care provider.

To read the full media statement, please see the Joint CDC and FDA Statement on Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine.