Heated Debate Over Vaccine Reuse... Unable to Hold Vote
Safety, Eligible Age Groups Investigated... Reassessment in One Week
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that it has decided to postpone by one week the review of whether to resume use of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, which was temporarily halted due to reported deaths linked to blood clot side effects. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), responsible for reviewing vaccine approvals, reportedly decided to delay the meeting without even holding a vote, citing insufficient data to make a determination. This has sparked controversy amid ongoing concerns about vaccine supply shortages, as daily COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. continue to range between 1,000 and 2,500.
According to foreign media including CNBC, on the 14th (local time), the CDC’s ACIP held an emergency meeting to review the safety and potential resumption of the J&J vaccine. However, the committee ended the meeting without initiating a vote on whether to resume use and announced that the next meeting would be held one week later. In a statement released immediately after the meeting, the committee said, "There is not enough data to reach a conclusion," and added, "We will maintain the recommendation to temporarily pause vaccinations and conduct further review."
The day before, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that six vaccine recipients had experienced unusual blood clot side effects, including one death, leading to a temporary full suspension of the J&J vaccine. Approximately 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and all recipients who developed blood clot side effects were women aged between 18 and 48. The CDC plans to collect various data over the next week regarding the safety of vaccinations and eligible age groups to formulate new recommendations.
There is controversy within the CDC and U.S. health authorities over the postponement of the review for resuming use. Given that daily COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. still range between 1,000 and 2,500, there are concerns that more than 10,000 additional deaths could occur during the one-week delay. Dr. Grace Lee, a CDC advisory committee member, warned in an interview with CNBC, "This decision could send the wrong message to the public that there is a fundamental problem with the vaccine," adding, "Individuals vulnerable to COVID-19 risk could face significant danger."
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