WASHINGTON, DC (Eagle News) —The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine for Covid-19 after six cases were reported in the U.S. of a “rare and severe blood clot” in individuals after receiving the vaccine.

The recommendation came through a joint statement by the CDC and the FDA that was released Tuesday morning.

Pharmacies, such as Walmart, started cancelling appointments that same morning of those scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine, telling patients that there has been a temporary stop in its administration.

According to the joint statement, in the reported cases “a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets.” All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.

Although the CDC said the clotting was extremely rare they recommended the pause in the distribution of the vaccine “out of an abundance of caution” and also so health care providers could be aware of proper recognition and treatment of the blood clots, which requires a treatment different from ones typically administered.

Health authorities said that “people who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.”

CDC and FDA will provide further information as they continue to study the reported cases.

As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S.

(Eagle News Service)