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On April 23, 2021, on advice from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the FDA and CDC recommended that use of the Johnson & Johnson adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine resume despite its association with development of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). Administration of the vaccine had been paused on April 13 because of 6 reports of TTS, but after completing a data review that identified a further 9 cases associated with the formulation, the agencies concluded that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed its risks. About 7.98 million doses of the single-dose vaccine had been administered in the US at the time of the review.1-4
All 15 cases of TTS associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine occurred in women, 13 of whom were 18-49 years old. Symptom onset occurred 6-15 days after vaccine administration (median 8 days). Cerebral venous sinus thromboses were present in 12 of the women. Platelet factor 4 heparin-induced thrombocytopenia enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PF4 HIT ELISA) testing was positive in all 11 women with available results. Three of the women who developed TTS died.4
The fact sheet for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine now includes a warning about the risk of TTS, but use of the formulation has not been restricted based on age or sex.5 No cases of TTS have been associated with the >200 million Pfizer and Moderna mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the US.4
The American Society of Hematology recommends that patients who present with thrombosis or thrombocytopenia 4-30 days after administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be evaluated promptly for TTS. Patients with confirmed or suspected TTS should not be treated with heparin; intravenous immune globulin and non-heparin anticoagulants should be used instead.6
- In brief: Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine suspended. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2021 May 3 (epub).
- FDA News Release. FDA and CDC lift recommended pause on Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine use following thorough safety review. April 23, 2021. Available at: https://bit.ly/3aHuO3C. Accessed April 28, 2021.
- CDC. CDC recommends use of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine resume. April 25, 2021. Available at: https://bit.ly/3xqch5M. Accessed April 28, 2021.
- T Shimabukuro. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. ACIP presentation slides: April 23, 2021 meeting. Available at: https://bit.ly/3ez3m9r. Accessed April 28, 2021.
- FDA. Fact sheet for healthcare providers administering vaccine (vaccination providers). Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). April 23, 2021. Available at: https://bit.ly/3e6KEaD. Accessed April 28, 2021.
- American Society of Hematology. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (also termed vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia). April 25, 2021. Available at: https://bit.ly/2R7fqXl. Accessed April 28, 2021.
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