Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 Vaccine has Emergency Use Authorization and is available for those who do not have access to other COVID-19 vaccines, cannot receive other COVID-19 vaccines for medical reasons, or would not get vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they could receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The CDC recommends the Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for the primary vaccination series. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is authorized for anyone age 18 and older if no other approved vaccine is available because of the risk of a rare but serious blood clotting disorder.
CDC said that receiving any vaccine is better than being unvaccinated, and the public will continue to have access to Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine. Please discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider or the healthcare professional at your vaccination site.
The group at highest risk for the rare blood clotting disorder is women ages 18–49 years, and symptoms began one to two weeks following vaccination. The chance of this occurring is remote. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Leg swelling
- Persistent abdominal pain
- Severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision
- Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.