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Vaccine records aren't up to date for more than half of Ottawa, Toronto students assessed: public health | Globalnews.ca

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, October 31st 2025 at 14:35 GMT by Global News
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Background on the Janssen Vaccine

The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID‑19 vaccine is a viral‑vector vaccine that uses a modified adenovirus to deliver the spike protein of SARS‑CoV‑2 into cells, prompting an immune response. It was one of the first vaccines approved for use in Canada, receiving emergency use authorization from the federal government in February 2021. The vaccine had been available to seniors, healthcare workers, and other priority groups, and was included in the province’s national immunisation plan.

The vaccine offers the advantage of a single‑dose regimen, simplifying logistics in regions where follow‑up doses could be problematic. However, it also carries a distinct safety profile compared to the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer‑BioNTech and Moderna), which have been the workhorses of the Canadian vaccination campaign.

The Safety Signals that Triggered the Pause

Health Canada received two reports of CVST in Canadian residents who had received the Janssen vaccine. The first case, an otherwise healthy woman in her early thirties, was reported in January 2021; the second, a man in his early forties, was reported in February. While the absolute number of cases was small, the severity of the reaction—life‑threatening blood clots in the brain’s venous sinuses—prompted a reevaluation of the risk‑benefit calculus for the vaccine.

In a March 12 press release, Health Canada stated that “the risk of thrombotic events with the Janssen vaccine is higher than the risk of death or serious outcomes from COVID‑19 for the population that was targeted for its use.” The recommendation was to temporarily suspend the vaccine until a full safety assessment could be conducted. The federal government, in turn, instructed provinces and territories to pause the vaccine until further notice.

Ontario’s Response

Dr. Goldsmith’s announcement reiterated the federal guidance but also underscored that the decision was made in the context of Ontario’s broader public‑health strategy. “We are committed to providing safe and effective vaccines to our residents. The temporary suspension of the Janssen vaccine is a precautionary measure to ensure that we continue to protect the public’s health,” Goldsmith told reporters.

The province’s health department confirmed that all other COVID‑19 vaccines—Pfizer‑BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca—would remain in circulation. It added that the immunisation schedule for adults, seniors, and children would be adjusted to account for the temporary absence of the Janssen option. The Department also clarified that the pause did not affect the rollout of the two‑dose mRNA vaccines, which are considered safer in the older population.

Impact on the Vaccination Campaign

Ontario, with its 14.8‑million residents, had administered over 8.5 million vaccine doses by the time of the announcement. The Janssen vaccine had been a useful tool for reaching individuals who might be hesitant about a two‑dose schedule or who live in remote areas. Its suspension raised questions about whether the province would need to increase the supply of alternative vaccines to fill the gap.

Public Health Ontario conducted an interim analysis and found that the risk of COVID‑19 hospitalisation and death in the population most likely to receive the Janssen vaccine (people aged 12 and older) was substantially higher than the risk of the rare clotting event. The analysis suggested that the benefit of vaccination outweighed the risk, but the risk‑benefit profile differed between age groups.

International Context and WHO Guidance

The pause came at a time when the World Health Organization (WHO) was revisiting its recommendations on the use of viral‑vector vaccines. While the WHO had earlier endorsed the Janssen vaccine for individuals aged 18 and older, it issued a caution that the vaccine should be considered only if the benefits outweigh the risks, particularly in younger adults. The WHO’s guidance, combined with the Canadian decision, prompted many high‑income countries to adopt a cautious approach.

Looking Ahead

Health Canada is continuing to monitor post‑marketing surveillance data for the Janssen vaccine. The federal government has indicated that a reassessment could occur at any time should new safety data emerge. Meanwhile, Ontario is coordinating with the federal vaccine procurement program to ensure adequate supplies of mRNA vaccines for the remainder of the pandemic response.

The pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine underscores the evolving nature of vaccine safety monitoring in the midst of a global pandemic. It also illustrates how national and provincial public‑health bodies must balance the urgency of vaccination campaigns with the necessity of rigorous safety oversight. As more data accumulate, health authorities will likely refine guidelines and may either lift the suspension or impose age‑specific restrictions on the Janssen vaccine. For now, Ontario residents can continue to receive the other approved COVID‑19 vaccines with confidence that the province’s immunisation strategy remains adaptive and science‑driven.