Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 30, 2021

Anxiety-Related Adverse Event Clusters After Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination — Five U.S. Mass Vaccination Sites, April 2021

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  • A review of data from 5 mass vaccination sites providing the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (total doses=8,624) revealed 64 anxiety-related events post-vaccination, including 17 events of fainting. The most commonly-reported event was light-headedness or dizziness. 13 persons were transported to an emergency department for follow-up, and all five for whom follow-up information was available were discharged the same day. A review of data from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System found the rate of fainting following vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine to be 8.2/100,000 doses, which is substantially higher than the rate among persons receiving the influenza vaccine (0.05/100,000). Of note, these anxiety-related events were all observed prior to the temporary pause of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine in the US.

Hause et al. (Apr 30, 2021). Anxiety-Related Adverse Event Clusters After Janssen COVID-19 Vaccination — Five U.S. Mass Vaccination Sites, April 2021. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7018e3