US Health Experts Believe Johnson & Johnson Vaccines Will Be Back In Use, Children Get Vaccinated By 2022

JAKARTA - The well-known infectious disease expert of the United States (US) Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday, April 18 local time, estimated that the United States health authorities would end the suspension of distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

"My guess is we will continue to use it in some form. I really doubt if they just cancel it. I don't think it will happen. I think there will likely be some kind of warning or limitation or risk assessment," Fauci said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' show', as reported by Reuters Sunday 18 April.

United States health regulators last week recommended stopping the use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, following reports of six rare cases of brain blood clots in women, out of an estimated 7 million people who have received the vaccine in the United States.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel will meet on April 23 to discuss the next steps for a vaccine. Fauci said he didn't know what the final decision would be, but he predicted there would be a repeat.

"I don't know if there are any further cases. We'll find out on Friday, and I would be very surprised if we weren't able to proceed in some form on Friday. Decisions will almost certainly be made on Friday," Fauci told CBS 'Face the Nation'.

Fauci on Sunday also outlined possible times when children could be vaccinated against COVID-19.

"I would be surprised if we didn't have middle school kids who could be vaccinated in the fall. I think when we reach the first quarter of 2022, we will be able to vaccinate kids of all ages, hopefully before that," he said.