Brady Collins
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired on May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US. The J&J vaccine rollout was paused in 2021 due to concerns over rare blood clotting adverse reactions, affecting 0.0008% of those vaccinated. Despite this, experts asserted that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks. Those who received the J&J shot are considered up-to-date if they follow recommendations for receiving one of the currently available updated vaccines. The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are available for most adults aged 18 and older, with the CDC recommending vaccination for those aged 65 and older, those at high risk, and those who have never been vaccinated. The FDA has advised that the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccines should be monovalent JN.1-lineage-based to more closely match circulating SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expiry | 6 May 2023 |
| J&J vaccine availability | No longer available in the US |
| J&J vaccine status | Considered up-to-date if followed by a currently available updated vaccine |
| Adverse reactions | Six cases among seven million people vaccinated |
| Risk of adverse reactions | Extremely low |
| Comparison with other vaccines | Yellow fever vaccine has a 0.0004% risk of causing severe illness |
| J&J vaccine benefits | Outweigh the risks |
| Current COVID-19 vaccines | Available at participating pharmacies and provider offices |
| CDC recommendation | 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged 18+ |
| Moderna COVID-19 vaccine | Fully approved for people 18+ in January 2022 |
| Moderna COVID-19 vaccine status | Updated over time to target new variants |
| FDA recommendation | Monovalent JN.1-lineage-based COVID-19 vaccines for Fall 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired in the US on May 6, 2023
- The benefits of the J&J vaccine are believed to outweigh the risks
- The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines target the Omicron variant
- The FDA has advised manufacturers to update the COVID-19 vaccines for Fall 2025
- The CDC recommends the 2024-2025 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired in the US on May 6, 2023
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the United States as of May 6, 2023, due to its expiration date being reached. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Janssen vaccine on June 1, 2023, following a request from Johnson & Johnson. This decision was influenced by factors such as the expiration of vaccine lots, a lack of demand for new lots, and the company's decision not to update the vaccine to address emerging variants.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was first introduced in December 2020 and was one of the initial COVID-19 vaccines, along with the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which targeted the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since then, the COVID-19 vaccines have been updated annually to address new variants and provide better protection. The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are the latest iteration, targeting the Omicron variant and its subvariants, which continue to drive infections in the United States.
The expiration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine means that all remaining doses needed to be disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. The CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Agreement specifically outlines the proper procedures for disposing of expired vaccines, emphasizing the importance of following local regulations and processes for medical waste management.
While the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is no longer available, individuals who received this vaccine are still considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for receiving one of the currently available updated vaccines. The CDC and other health organizations provide guidance on vaccine recommendations, including for those who are immunocompromised or have recently recovered from COVID-19.
The ongoing evolution of COVID-19 vaccines underscores the importance of staying informed and following the latest advice from official sources, such as the CDC and WHO, to ensure optimal protection against the virus.
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The benefits of the J&J vaccine are believed to outweigh the risks
As of May 6, 2023, the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the US. However, prior to its expiration, health experts and organizations emphasized that the benefits of the J&J vaccine outweighed the risks.
The J&J vaccine uses DNA designed to trigger an immune response to the virus. It contains a weakened version of the adenovirus, which causes the common cold, combined with genes from the coronavirus's spike protein. This prompts the immune system to fight the virus. While the J&J vaccine was shown to be more than 66% effective for adults, the Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines had higher efficacy rates of at least 90%.
Despite the lower efficacy rate of the J&J vaccine, it still provided significant protection against COVID-19. In clinical trials, all three vaccines, including J&J, completely prevented hospitalizations and deaths. This was particularly important in reducing the burden on healthcare systems and ensuring adequate medical resources for those with severe COVID-19 infections.
While there were concerns about rare side effects such as thrombosis (blood clots) with thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), also known as TTS, the occurrence rate was extremely low. As of May 6, 2021, only 16 cases of blood clots were reported out of approximately 8 million J&J vaccine recipients. The risk of TTS was higher in younger women, with 15 out of the 16 confirmed cases occurring in women, and 13 of those in women aged 18 to 49. However, the overall risk of TTS after the J&J vaccine was about two in a million, which is on par with the rate of anaphylaxis reported for mRNA vaccines.
Additionally, the FDA added a warning about Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder where the immune system attacks nerve cells, as a possible risk of the J&J vaccine. However, the chance of this occurring was very low, and most cases occurred in males over 50 within 42 days of vaccination.
In conclusion, while the J&J vaccine had a slightly lower efficacy rate compared to other vaccines, its benefits outweighed the risks. It effectively prevented hospitalizations and deaths, and the occurrence of rare side effects was extremely low. As such, health experts encouraged individuals to get vaccinated with whichever vaccine was available to them, as receiving any COVID-19 vaccine was considered better than remaining unvaccinated.
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The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines target the Omicron variant
The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired on May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US. However, the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are now available and target the Omicron variant, specifically the JN.1 lineage. These updated vaccines are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, and especially for those aged 65 and above, those at high risk for severe COVID-19, pregnant women, and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine before.
The 2024-2025 vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna (Spikevax), and Novavax. Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 lineage, while the Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 lineage. The Novavax vaccine is authorized for those aged 12 and older and can be used as a primary two-dose series.
The CDC and FDA recommend that the updated mRNA vaccines be administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID vaccine. For those who have recently recovered from COVID-19, it is recommended to wait at least three months after infection before getting the vaccine to maximize the immune response.
While the 2024-2025 vaccines target the Omicron variant, it is important to note that the virus continues to evolve, and new variants may emerge that require updated vaccines. Additionally, there is ongoing political debate and public sentiment regarding COVID-19 vaccines, with some opposing vaccine mandates and access.
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The FDA has advised manufacturers to update the COVID-19 vaccines for Fall 2025
The FDA has not explicitly advised manufacturers to update the COVID-19 vaccines for Fall 2025. However, in June 2024, the FDA did advise manufacturers to update the COVID-19 vaccines for Fall 2024, recommending monovalent JN.1 vaccines. The FDA also stated that the preferred lineage for the 2024-2025 formula was the KP.2 strain, which would ensure the vaccines more closely match circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains.
As of May 2025, the FDA's expert vaccine panel was split on whether COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers should be advised to update the strain of the virus that their products target. Some members favoured recommending a newer version of the virus, while others suggested manufacturers could be given the choice to update the vaccines or make the 2025-2026 vaccine with the same version as the previous winter's shots. The concern with recommending a strain change is that manufacturers might face new testing requirements that could delay the delivery of vaccines for Fall 2025.
The World Health Organization's expert panel recommended that COVID-19 shots for Fall 2025 could either remain unchanged or be updated to target the LP.8.1 subvariant. The European Medicines Agency indicated a preference for LP.8.1 but also said manufacturers could stick with the 2024-2025 strain.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are available and recommended for most adults aged 18 and older, especially those aged 65 and older, those at high risk for severe COVID-19, and those who have never received a COVID-19 vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired as of May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the US.
The FDA has made it harder for manufacturers to bring new COVID shots to market and has narrowed who can get the Novavax shot.
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The CDC recommends the 2024-2025 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older
The CDC recommends the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine for most adults aged 18 and older. This includes people who have previously received a COVID-19 vaccine, those who have had COVID-19, and those with long COVID. The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines more closely target the JN.1 lineage of the Omicron variant.
It is especially important for individuals aged 65 and older or those at high risk of severe COVID-19 to receive the updated vaccine. The CDC advises that individuals who have recently had COVID-19 may delay getting the vaccine for three months after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result if asymptomatic. However, certain factors may warrant getting the vaccine sooner.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is available at participating pharmacies and provider offices. It is important to note that the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired as of May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the United States. Those who previously received the J&J vaccine are considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for obtaining one of the currently available updated vaccines.
In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC recommends several other vaccinations for adults, such as the seasonal flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, shingles vaccine, RSV vaccine, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine, and Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot. These vaccines help protect adults from serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine expired as of May 6, 2023, and is no longer available in the U.S.
The J&J vaccine was paused due to concerns about adverse reactions, specifically blood clotting.
There were six cases among seven million people vaccinated, which is an extremely low frequency of adverse reactions.
Those who received the J&J shot are considered up-to-date if they follow the recommendations for getting one of the currently available updated vaccines.
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines are available at participating pharmacies and provider offices. Three vaccines are available in the United States, with no preference for one over another. The vaccines have been updated to target the Omicron variant.
