The many hot takes on here that the complications from J&J are so rare we shouldn’t have paused it’s use are persuasive at face value. The pandemic IS still raging. We NEED shots in arms. And the risk is SO low! This is all true.
But that argument is missing something critical.
But that argument is missing something critical.
If my loved one was among the 6 with a complication AND the FDA/CDC/US govt knew there was a signal but didn’t act, I’d be furious.
I really appreciate the transparency here.
They could’ve easily argued this away...”this is the background rate of clots” etc. But they didn’t.
I really appreciate the transparency here.
They could’ve easily argued this away...”this is the background rate of clots” etc. But they didn’t.
Will this mean it’ll be harder to convince many, especially younger women, to get the J&J vaccine if/when we start using it widely again? Yes.
...even if the risk is shown to be much lower than Covid, getting struck by lighting, or dying from a vending machine crushing you? Yes.
...even if the risk is shown to be much lower than Covid, getting struck by lighting, or dying from a vending machine crushing you? Yes.
But the practical importance of this pause - and how it was messaged, with a focus on informing providers - was huge. And really responsible.
I was in the ER today. One of the first patients I saw after getting briefed on the J&J decision was a young woman in her 30s.
I was in the ER today. One of the first patients I saw after getting briefed on the J&J decision was a young woman in her 30s.
She got the J&J vaccine a week ago. She had symptoms that overlap with those we were told to look out for. Today’s announcement changed my differential diagnosis & impacted my clinical management.
That’s exactly what it was meant to do. It’s also how we’ll get the data we need.
That’s exactly what it was meant to do. It’s also how we’ll get the data we need.
Look, let’s stop pretending that people don’t know the difference between vaccines. Or that potential issues with one vaccine means they won’t get the others if they’re available to them.
Will today’s announcement impact vaccine hesitancy? Perhaps. Maybe a bit. At most.
Will today’s announcement impact vaccine hesitancy? Perhaps. Maybe a bit. At most.
But more importantly, it should drastically improve our faith in the public health institutions tasked with protecting us. With how they had been politicized & over-ruled by the previous admin, this is critical.
And that’s exactly why I think today’s decision was the right one.
And that’s exactly why I think today’s decision was the right one.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
