CDC May Limit J&J Vaccine Over Complications; Hospitals Get Incentives on COVID-19 Treatments

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considering whether it should stop the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine over cases of it causing blood clots, which have been seen more in young and middle-aged women. The Washington Post reports that “the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will be presented with new data that appears to show the rate of the clots in people who received the Johnson & Johnson shot has increased since April, although the problem is still rare.”

In other news, a report from the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons details how hospitals get incentive payments for patients of COVID-19, and details how these incentives could limit patient care and possibly harm patients. It states, “The CARES Act provides incentives for hospitals to use treatments dictated solely by the federal government under the auspices of the NIH. These ‘bounties’ must be paid back if not ‘earned’ by making the COVID-19 diagnosis and following the COVID-19 protocol.”