On June 1, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration revoked its authorization and use of the Janssen (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. This authorization change was based on the latest data about the risk of developing a rare blood clotting disorder after receiving the J&J/Janssen vaccine. While the risk of a serious adverse reaction to the J&J/Janssen vaccine is very low and far lower than the risks for COVID-19 infection, it is higher than the other authorized vaccines.
Rare adverse events associated with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine typically presented within days or weeks following vaccination. The risk of having an adverse reaction to the vaccine is very low, and even lower as time passes. The identification of any possible risks, like the risks associated with the J&J/Janssen vaccine, is a sign that the nation’s safety monitoring system for COVID-19 vaccines is working.
People who are not yet vaccinated, along with people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and are eligible for an updated vaccine, should get a Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine.
Updated December 14, 2023