FDA restricts J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot risk

WASHINGTON — Regulators on Thursday strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of rare but serious blood clots.

The Food and Drug Administration said the shot should only be given to adults who cannot receive a different vaccine or specifically request J&J’s vaccine.

The problem occurs in the first two weeks after vaccination, said the FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks: “So if you had the vaccine six months ago, you can sleep soundly tonight knowing this isn’t an issue.”