NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) —The Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine is on hold across America because of concerns the shot may cause blood clots.
While scientists say this is rare, affecting about one in a million women between 18 to 48 years old, infectious disease specialists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are shedding more light.
Director Dr. David Aronoff says the blood clots are forming between day six and day 21 after getting the shot.
And the CDC and FDA are looking at the similarly made shot in Europe from Astra Zeneca to learn more since it has also been linked to blood clots.
“Special anitbodies that seem to be induced in these patients that are causing this to appear to be a bit of an auto immune disease. So, the CDC and FDA will look very closely at the cases in the us associated with J&J vaccine to see if this similar with what we've seen in Europe with the Astra Zeneca,” says Dr. Aronoff.
Europe has gone back and forth halting the AstraZeneca shot because of a link with blood clots and a drop in platelets.
The CDC is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon to decide further direction on the J&J vaccine in America.