Peter Jaskiewicz

The Food and Drug Administration asked states on Tuesday to temporarily halt using Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after six women in the U.S. developed a rare blood-clotting disorder that left one woman dead and another in critical condition.

All six cases occurred in women ages 18 to 48, with symptoms developing 6-18 days after they received the shot. Doctors typically treat that type of blood clot with heparin, but health regulators noted that could be dangerous in this case and recommended a different treatment.

These reports are concerning, especially since the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot compared to the two required for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one of the versions proven to be effective. The pause is only for this vaccine, so vaccinations with the Pfizer and Moderna variants are ongoing.

The blood clot may be dangerous, but it is rare. According to CDC principal director Dr. Anne Schuchat, people who received the J&J vaccine more than a month ago are at low risk for developing blood clots. However, she did say people who got the vaccine should seek medical treatment if they develop severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath.

Blood clots can be treated, depending on where the blood clot is and how likely it is to harm you. You can use medication or compression stockings to help prevent the blood clot from getting larger or breaking loose. However, the blood clot might also require surgery.

NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci stated they are aware of rare clotting events, and that they want to get this worked out as quickly as possible. They want to leave it up to the FDA and the CDC to investigate this carefully.

Despite the risks, getting any vaccine is your best bet in preventing COVID-19. There are side effects to vaccines, but they are normal signs that your body is building protection and should go away in a few days.