Over the last year, a number of vaccine “halts” occurred worldwide as some concerning side effects were examined. In each case, all vaccination protocols were resumed within days since the particular problems were felt either to be unrelated or so rare that vaccination was felt to be safe to resume. That is what is supposed to happen. Side effects or reactions are reported and identified, you stop, investigate and then decide what to do.
Just yesterday, the CDC announced that vaccinations with this vaccine will be halted until the issue of possible blood clots associated with it, could be examined further. Blood clots were investigated with other vaccines, ones which have a similar mode of action to the J&J vaccine, using an inactivated common-cold virus called an adenovirus, so it may be that this type of vaccine poses such a threat, but we are not sure yet. Pfizer and Moderna are a different kind of vaccine, using MRNA, genetic material.
But let’s keep it all in perspective
A total of 6 women developed venous blood clots in a specific part of the brain, 7-13 days after their J&J vaccinations. One tragically died and another one is in critical condition. As scary as that sounds, it is still only 6 in 1 million doses, since more than 6 million doses have already been given. Now, given the delayed nature of the clotting events, there may be a few more that will surface, but it’s not likely that many more. In comparison, this particular type of clotting problem occurs at exactly that same rate in the general population, not related to vaccination, 5-6 per 1,000,000 people.
As a comparison, the odds of getting hit by lightning are 2 per million (twice as likely) and dying in a car accident, 9,700 per million.
Most importantly, the chances of dying from Coronavirus, in this same demographic of women, is 1800 per million. That is 1800x greater than the chances of having a clot after vaccination.
This vaccine will likely be re-introduced soon, probably within a week, but there is a much more concerning issue.
A recent poll, before this issue surfaced, indicated that more than 30% of Americans were still either not planning to get vaccinated or were waiting to see how it goes. That’s a third of the population! There is a reason that most states are rapidly expanding eligibility to everyone, and it is not more vaccine procurement. It’s vaccine availability, because too many people don’t want it or physically can’t get to a site (a much smaller number). There are reports of many, many doses being wasted because people are not showing up for their appointments or they just can’t fill the spots. Shameful, given the worldwide demand in vaccine.
It is just exasperating.
I understand the need to investigate. That is what is supposed to happen. But even negligible negative news about the vaccine is only fuel for vaccine deniers or those on the fence, to continue to endanger themselves and those around them.
Simple as that.
I’m too busy to go on (thankfully)
You know that mantra. I won’t stop repeating it.
MASK up.
DISTANCE.
WASH your hands.
VENTILATE.
VACCINATE.
WORK ON YOUR HEALTH.
Stay safe and be well.
AC ✌️ 🌱