Guyana intends to review the information being shared by the US Centers for Disease Control on the use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

An advisory panel to the US-CDC late last week said people should choose the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine over the Johnson and Johnson shot if those two vaccines are available.

The advice followed reports that at least 54 people in the United States mainly women have been hospitalized with blood clots that are linked to the vaccine and nine of those persons have died.

During today’s COVID-19 update, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony said Guyana will study the information and advice from the US health authorities.

“We in Guyana, we would certainly review the technical information that is emerging from the CDC and see whether or not we would need to change our recommendation, but so far the World Health Organisation continues to recommend the J&J vaccine,” the Health Minister said.

The one-shot J&J vaccine is currently being offered in Guyana and recently the Minister recommended that the same Johnson and Johnson vaccine be used as a booster shot for persons who are fully vaccinated with Sputnik.

Against this backdrop, the Health Minister believes the vaccine is safe.

“In this context in a series of having three vaccines, it is going to be very effective. So the regimen that we are offering differs from what obtains in other parts of the world,” R. Anthony said.

The Health Minister also noted that Guyana is considering advice from the World Health Organization for a second J&J dose for those persons who took the one-shot dose.

The recommendation from the CDC does not prohibit use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine but has made it clear that the other options are a better choice.

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