After US, South Africa Suspends Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Rollout Over Blood Clot Concerns

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control had, on Tuesday, recommended a pause in the use of the single shot J&J vaccine over potential links to a rare type of blood clot

South Africa on Tuesday suspended the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine over potential blood clot risks reported by the United States, the health minister said.

AFP reports that the announcement delays an already sluggish vaccination campaign in Africa’s worst-hit country, which has so far only administered the US-made jab.

“We have determined to voluntarily suspend our rollout until the causal relationship between the development of clots and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is sufficiently interrogated,” Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in an online briefing.

Read also: US Suspends Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Over Blood Clot Fears

Mkhize said that although no blood clots had been reported among vaccinated citizens in South Africa, the FDA’s advice should not be taken “lightly”.

“We hope that the deliberations will only take a few days,” he added.

“Given the preliminary literature at hand, our scientists are confident that the FDA decision is only on a precautionary basis, and we expect that this will not result in the complete withdrawal of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”

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