Brits under-30 may miss out on one-shot Covid vaccine as Johnson & Johnson jab probed over blood clot fears
YOUNG people may miss out on the one-dose Covid jab due to fears of rare blood clots.
Ministers hoped the Johnson and Johnson vaccine could be a “jab and go” solution for those in their 20s and 30s wanting a holiday abroad.
* Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
Its rollout has been delayed after six reports of blood clots — one fatal — were linked to the vaccine, which has been given to 6.8million people in the US.
With fewer than one in a million affected, experts say any risk is “incredibly rare”.
But it has led to US health authorities calling for a “pause” in use — while the pharma giant Janssen is delaying it in Europe.
It is similar to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab — also linked to rare blood clots.
Britain has bought 30million J&J doses.
But health sources said: “There is no reason to panic. We still have a large number of other vaccines.”
It came as solicitor Emily Sanderson, 28, who has a health condition, yesterday became one of the first in England to receive the Moderna jab, at Sheffield Arena.
Most read in Health News
Brits in their 30s should be offered a jab within weeks, with those in their 40s currently being called in.
UK regulators say under-30s should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca due to the very slight clots risk.
Meanwhile, testing firm Randox has halved its price for travellers returning from abroad to £60.