Expert panel includes rare blood clot reports in evaluation of J&J's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine

The Philippine Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) took into consideration the rare blood clot reports in its evaluation of American drugmaker Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical arm Janssen's COVID-19 vaccine.

In an interview on Balitanghali, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) director general Eric Domingo said the VEP has delayed the release of its recommendations on Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine after reports that the US FDA has called for a pause on its use.

“Dapat noong Wednesday patapos na sila sa kanilang deliberations kaya lang nung Thursday lumabas din ‘yung balita na sa US FDA nag pause din sila sa paggamit ng Janssen na vaccine,” Domingo said Friday.

(The VEP was supposed to close their deliberations last Wednesday but on Thursday, the news broke out, saying the US FDA has paused the use of Janssen vaccines.)

“So kumuha rin sila ng info on that at kasama na ‘yon sa isasaalang-alang nila sa kanilang deliberations bago sila magbigay ng recommendations,” he added.

(So they gathered information on that and they included it in their deliberations before they can release their recommendations.)

Domingo said the VEP will submit its recommendation on Janssen's vaccine within the week.

On April 5, Domingo confirmed that Janssen has filed an application for emergency use authorization (EUA) of its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

In January, the vaccine showed 66% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 in a large global trial against several coronavirus variants.

It is also 85% effective against severe COVID-19 and prevents hospitalization 28 days after immunization.

The Department of Science and Technology also said that Janssen’s Phase 3 clinical trial is already underway in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas.

The FDA has so far approved the emergency use of the vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Sputnik V.—AOL, GMA News