Internet Reacts to Johnson & Johnson Vaccine 'Pause'

As the U.S. recommends a "pause" in the distribution of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine amid concerns of a rare blood clot side effect, Twitter users worldwide have weighed in online.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their investigation into the reported cases of "rare and severe" blood clots in six women who took the single-dose vaccine. Several states, including New York, Ohio, Connecticut and Georgia, announced the immediate suspension of the J&J shot pending the results of the investigation.

The New York State Department of Health noted that there would be little to no interruption in vaccine appointments. "All appointments for Johnson & Johnson vaccines today at New York State mass vaccination sites will be honored with the Pfizer vaccine," Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a written statement.

Twitter lit up with discourses about the J&J news, with several users who took the single-dose option expressing concern for their health. User @UltaMikaHD, who goes by Amanda, posted a photo to express her shocked reaction to the news after receiving her vaccine "a week and a half ago."

Others feared what the news could mean for the future of the vaccine. Outspoken Twitter user Josh Jordan, or @NumbersMuncher on the platform, predicted that regardless of the outcomes of the FDA and CDC studies that "the trust in the Johnson [&] Johnson vaccine will be severely damaged." He even alleged that it handed "ammo" to "anti-vaxxers."

Interestingly, the national recommendation to hold off on distributing the J&J vaccine has not deterred others desperate to be vaccinated. Noah Blume, an editor for Tablet Magazine, expressed to readers his desire to still be vaccinated with the J&J option that he was scheduled for. He even went so far as to offer to "take it right the f**k now and on camera."

Despite the heavy nature of the news, many online tried to find humor in the situation, with some even insinuating that the J&J shot was not "as good" as the Pfizer and Moderna options. Several memes suggested that the other two vaccines would succeed at the expense of J&J.

Some, while acknowledging that the FDA and CDC were reacting "out of an abundance of caution," felt the decision to halt distribution was "irresponsible." One user @ne0liberal compared the J&J jab to the AstraZeneca blood clot issue, calling "the claimed [blood clot] incidence here for J&J is even lower [than AstraZeneca]."

Author D. Earl Stephens compared the J&J pause to the gun control debate, saying that "the chances of your kid being shot at school today are about 10,000 times higher [than getting the J&J complication]."

Amid the mixed responses online, the White House COVID-19 Response Team also released a statement "ensuring that [the] supply of Pfizer and Moderna will allow us to continue our pace of administering 3 million shots per day." Dr. Anthony Fauci and Jeff Zients will also be present at the White House Daily Press Briefing today at 12:45 pm ET.