Johnson & Johnson delays distribution of Covid-19 vaccine to Europe
Deliveries of the Janssen jab were expected this week but have been paused after as United States investigates reports of rare blood clots
Johnson & Johnson has announced that it is delaying the distribution of the Janssen vaccine to Europe "proactively" while studying the cases of rare blood clots in the United States.
The EU was due to start administering the Janssen vaccine this week. Spanish health minister, Carolina Darias, said earlier in the week they would be used for those aged between 70 and 79.
Earlier on Tuesday, the health agency of the US, known as the FDA, recommended suspending the use of the jab after six “severe” cases of rare thrombosis were detected.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said that it is investigating the side effects and will announce the results of their analysis once a conclusion is reached.
For now, the EMA say it is “not clear” that a link exists and has not deemed it necessary to discourage its use while they investigate the cases.
“EMA’s scientific opinions provide member states with the information they need to make decisions about vaccine use,” an EMA spokesman stated.
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