The US Food and Drug Administration said it was acting “out of an abundance of caution”. It said six cases of severe blood clotting had been detected in more than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine.
In the United States, 300,000 to 600,000 people a year develop blood clots, according to CDC data. But the particular blood clotting disorder that the vaccine recipients developed, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, is extremely rare and needs a different treatment than usual. The common treatment – an anticoagulant drug called heparin – “may be dangerous”, the FDA said and added that an alternative was required.
The company’s shares were down 3 per cent before the opening bell.
Clinical trials suggest the J&J vaccine offers 100 per cent protection from severe Covid leading to hospitalisation or death, and around 66 per cent protection from mild infection.
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