FDA restricts Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine due to blood clot risk

A dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
(Image credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday limited who can receive the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, citing concerns over a rare and serious blood clotting condition.

The vaccine is under an emergency use authorization, for adults 18 and older, and the FDA said in a statement that it should now only be given to people who can't or won't get any other vaccine. The agency said it came to this determination after conducting "an updated analysis, evaluation, and investigation" of cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) reported after receiving the vaccine. TTS can cause dangerous blood clots.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.