Having received the backing of Europe’s drug regulator, the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine against COVID-19 should quickly become available in Germany. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, vaccinations should begin from the beginning of May. 

Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout resumes in Germany

Now that the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine has received the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Germany wants to start administering it to patients as soon as possible. According to a report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, it should be distributed to the country’s vaccination centres within the coming days, and then be available in GP surgeries from the beginning of May. 

A spokesperson for Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn confirmed this: “Following the EMA’s decision, we will now deliver the JJ vaccines to the federal states promptly, and from the week after next to the [GP] practices as well.” 

EMA: Possible link between JJ vaccine and blood clots

The Robert Koch Institute’s Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) still recommends the vaccine for all adults, regardless of age. However, this advice may change in the coming weeks and months. 

The JJ vaccine experienced a setback earlier this month when a handful of cases of blood clotting disorders were discovered in recent recipients, which were said to be “very similar” to those that had occurred with the AstraZeneca shot. The vaccine’s rollout in Europe and the US was put on hold while evidence was gathered and examined.

On Tuesday this week, the EMA concluded that there was a possible link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the blood clots, and recommended that the events should be listed as “very rare side-effects” of the vaccine. However, the authority stressed that the benefits of the jab outweighed its risks. The same recommendation was issued for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses the same technology as the Johnson & Johnson one. Germany now limits use of AstraZeneca to people over the age of 60. 

It is still unclear whether there will be similar restrictions for Johnson & Johnson. STIKO boss Thomas Mertens told FAZ that so far they only have a handful of cases from the United States, which now need to be examined before a decision can be made.