Latvia receives Johnson & Johnson vaccines but is unable to use them yet

  • 2021-04-14
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Latvia has received the first 4,800 doses of the Johnson & Johnson  (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine ahead of schedule, but will not be able to start using them yet, Health Minister Daniels Pavluts (For Development/For) informed.

Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday it will delay rollout of its Covid-19 vaccine in Europe after US authorities moved to suspend use of the shot due to health concerns. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moved to "pause" the one-jab Covid-19 inoculation on worries over six reported cases of a rare type of blood clot in the United States.

That means that Latvia will not be able to start using the J&J vaccine doses to immunize people with disabilities as of next week. 

"While US authorities are examining these cases in detail, we receive info that the producer will ask us not to use this vaccine," the health minister said. He indicated that next Wednesday, April 14, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will organize talks with member states' regulators, including with Latvia's State Agency of Medicines.

That means that it is necessary to look for Plan B to ensure the vaccination of these patients, said Pavluts.