US health authorities have recommended the suspension of use of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine for COVID-19 as they investigate rare cases of blood clots.

The recommendation comes after European health regulators revealed that a probe was underway on reports of clots among four people who got J&J’s vaccine.

US is investigating six reported cases of blood clots, in one of which the patient died. The clotting was reported in 6 women, between 18 to 48 years of age. Besides clots, they were also reported to have experienced low levels of platelets, which help with clotting, Wall Street Journal reported.

Also read: One US patient died, another critical after Johnson & Johnson vaccine

The symptoms of blood clots: If someone has got vaccinated by the J&J vaccine within the past three weeks, the symptoms that can appear are severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath.

In the six reported clotting cases, symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after the vaccination. Some flu like symptoms may also occur within a day or so of receiving the vaccine.

Also read: Answer to all your questions about Johnson & Johnson vaccine

“For those who got the J&J vaccine more than a month ago, the risk for blood clotting is very low,” Wall Street Journal quoted Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director at the CDC, as saying.

Is the risk serious?

As only 6 cases have been reported so far, the risk appears to be low. Health authorities just want to be extra careful with COVID-19 vaccines because they have to be given a large number of people. But if the clots do happen and remain untreated, it can become life threatening. So stay in touch with health professional if you have gotten the J&J vaccine.