April 16, 2021
Dear Members of the Baylor College of Medicine Community,
In this week’s video, I answer many of the questions I have received from you in the past several weeks. First on the list is what the J&J vaccine pause means. The pause is reasonable as long as it is focused on defining for patients and physicians what symptoms to look for and how to treat the complication.
It is important for the regulatory agencies to look at the data and symptoms and make recommendations from that review. Six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed a relatively unusual blood clot, a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). There were six events in 7.2 million vaccinations, but those cases were observed in a two-week period, all in women of a specific age rang. This has been a very effective vaccine and the complication is very rare. I would favor restarting the vaccine program with providing information to patients and physicians.
We have too great a global need.
Stay safe and have a great weekend.
Paul Klotman, M.D.
President & CEO
Baylor College of Medicine
