Pfizer, Moderna Vaccines Safer Than J&J: CDC Cites Blood Clots

WASHINGTON, DC — A panel of advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted unanimously Thursday to recommend the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines over the one developed by Johnson & Johnson, according to multiple reports.

The decision follows the release of data indicating that a rare blood clotting complication is more commonly linked to people who received the J&J vaccine, according to a CNN report.

So far, the CDC has recorded 54 cases of the syndrome, medically known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, or TTS. Nine people have died.

The recommendation, approved in a 15-0 vote, states that "mRNA vaccines are preferred over the Janssen Covid-19 vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19 for those 18 years of age and over."

Until now, the United States has treated all three COVID-19 vaccines available to Americans as an equal choice, since large studies found they all offered strong protection and early supplies were limited, The Associated Press reported. J&J’s vaccine was welcomed as a single-dose option, needed for hard-to-reach groups such as homeless people who might not get a second dose.

On Thursday, members of the panel said it was time to recognize that much has changed since vaccines began rolling out a year ago, AP reported.

More than 200 million Americans are considered fully vaccinated. About 16 million got the J&J shot.