Don’t Panic Over Johnson & Johnson Hype [OPINION]

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention have called for a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. This pause is causing anxiety for millions who have already received the "one and done" vaccine and will delay the vaccination for all who chose to receive it.

And the media loves it.

The pause was called because six out of 6.8 million people who received the vaccine experienced an “extremely rare” blood clot risk. One of the six vaccine recipients has died to date. O-N-E.

Johnson & Johnson issued a statement saying it will conduct a review of the vaccine, “Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution.” The blood clot is called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, according to the company. The review is to allow health care providers an opportunity to bone up on how to treat the blood clot should they encounter it.

The reported cases involved women 18-48 years old. Symptoms, including headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, and shortness of breath, were reported between 6-13 days of receiving the shot. Anyone experiencing symptoms within three weeks of receiving the vaccine should contact their doctor.

Whether or not you receive one of the three vaccines available is entirely your choice. But millions want to be vaccinated. This pause will delay that from happening. The media hype is stressful for some who have had the shot already and creates anxiety for those still waiting for their turn.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.