The Netherlands will stop using Janssen vaccine for the time being: no vaccination for healthcare personnel | Inland

The minister wants to await the verdict of the European Medicines Agency EMA before he wants to continue with Janssen. That EMA investigation is expected next week. De Jonge may then first ask for advice from the Health Council. “Safety comes first,” says De Jonge. “Still, I hope that we can get back to work with Janssen next week.”

In the United States, where the Janssen vaccine has already been administered 7 million times, an investigation is currently underway into some reports of unusual blood clots, in combination with a reduced number of platelets. These are the same problems that have been reported with the AstraZeneca vaccine, although it has not yet been established with the Janssen vaccine whether the very rare side effect is actually the result of the injection.

The Janssen vaccine has not yet been vaccinated in Europe. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is studying the reports from the US.

In response to Janssen’s request, De Jonge is holding on to the decision about the use of the Janssen vaccine until more is known about the EMA investigation.

Janssen’s request to temporarily suspend the use of the delivered vaccines has consequences for the people who would be vaccinated with Janssen. These are employees and clients in mental health care, and hospital employees with direct patient contact and younger than 60 years.

The Netherlands has received about 80,000 doses of the Janssen vaccine, of which the first injection would be given on Thursday. The vaccines will remain in the storage location for the time being. In total, the Netherlands has ordered 11.3 million doses of this vaccine, good for full protection for the same number of people. What the decision means for the vaccination schedule is not yet clear. The injection plan had just been updated after last week’s decision to only use AstraZeneca over 60. Janssen is currently intended for under 60s, including healthcare providers and people with a medical indication.

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