EU to rule on J&J shot:
US regulators to decide by Friday
Europe’s drug regulator was expected to rule yesterday on the safety of the Johnson & Johnson Covid19 vaccine after fears it could be linked to extremely rare blood clots.
The United States is also expected to announce its decision on the singleshot J&J vaccine by Friday, as nations around the world try to accelerate their rollouts and revive their pandemic-ravaged economies.
The European Medicines Agency was due to hold a press conference from Amsterdam yesterday, after reviewing four cases — one fatal — of rare blood clots reported among people who received the J&J shot.
But the number of reported clots were “extremely small” compared with the 4.5 million J&J shots administered worldwide, the EMA has said.
That comparison echoes the comments by top US pandemic adviser Anthony Fauci, who described the clots as “an extraordinarily rare event”.
Dr Fauci said on Sunday he believed the US would resume use of the jab, possibly with some restrictions or warnings.
The J&J vaccine concerns follow similar reports of blood clots in a very small number of people who received the AstraZeneca shot.
The EMA described those clots as a “very rare” side effect, stressing that the AstraZeneca jab’s benefits outweigh the risks.
The leaders of Europe are keen to accelerate vaccinations and expand availability after facing intense criticism over a sluggish rollout and with the public desperate for a return to some degree of normality.
That desire was on display in EU member Slovakia on Monday, where shops, museums, libraries and swimming pools reopened after a lengthy lockdown, bringing big crowds onto the streets.
Hairdressers were in particularly high demand.
“We have been very busy since the morning, but I am very happy that we can cut hair again,” said Martin, a Bratislava barber.
There are concerns, however, that vaccine inequality between wealthy and poor nations will further complicate and prolong the pandemic.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg became the latest high-profile figure to criticise the lopsided distribution, describing vaccine inequity as a “tragedy”.
The 18-year-old donated 100,000 euros (about 3.7 million baht) from her foundation to the Covax scheme, which is helping with global access to vaccines — especially in poorer countries.
Mass vaccinations are considered key for resuming regular life and economic activity, especially travel.
But the World Health Organization’s emergency committee said it was against international passengers being required to have proof of vaccination — a proposal being mulled by numerous countries.
The committee said such requirements would “deepen inequities and promote differential freedom of movement” because of the uneven global vaccine rollout.
But the threat of the virus being spread by international travellers was brought into sharp focus in Hong Kong, where at least 49 passengers on a flight from India tested positive.