New COVID-19 Vaccine Warnings Don’t Mean It’s Unsafe—They Mean the System To Report Side Effects Is Working
Author: Justin Vesser.
Source: Volume 22, Number 04, Fall 2021 , pp.95-96(2)
< previous article |next article > |return to table of contents
Abstract:
While the COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the U.S. have been proved to be safe and effective, recent reports of rare adverse events, or side effects, have raised concerns. On July 12, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved an update to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet to include an increased risk of the rare nerve condition Guillain-Barré syndrome. This follows previous reports linking the J&J vaccine with a rare blood clot. While reports like these can be scary, they’re a sign that the vaccine safety reporting system is working. They also highlight how the relative risks of rare side effects like these need to be put into context.Keywords: Serious Adverse Event Risk from Vaccines
Affiliations:
1: University of Virginia.