The Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Has Instructions for Use, But Online
The claim that blank inserts in vaccine medical packages are included with the intention to conceal information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is false. The insert is intentionally left blank as it contains a QR code and a website on which the latest vaccine information is published
We are reviewing a Facebook post with content regarding the vaccine Johnson & Johnson.
In the video within the post, a woman holds a sealed box of Johnson & Johnson vaccine and, after opening the box, removes the instructions for use, which are part of every medicine. However, this insert is blank. “Must be magic,” – the woman in the video states.
At the 15th second of the video, when she opens the vaccine box, it can be seen that this insert contains a bar code. This bar code contains all the information that would normally be written in the instructions for use.
The claim that blank inserts in vaccine medical packages are included with the intention to conceal information about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine is false. The insert is intentionally left blank as it contains a QR code and a website on which the latest vaccine information is published.
Although it is true that the insert is almost entirely blank, it also has a section in which it is explicitly stated that this decision was intentional.
“The U.S. package insert that accompanies the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine includes information regarding how to electronically access expiry dates and Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized Fact Sheets, which are available at www.vaxcheck.jnj,” a Johnson & Johnson spokesperson told Reuters.
He explained that this is done intentionally for citizens to have access to the latest information and updates on the vaccine. The online leaflet contains detailed information on who can receive it, the composition of the vaccine, the dose and administration of the vaccine, and warnings and contraindications.
The vaccine contains the following ingredients: recombinant incompetent adenovirus type 26, citric acid monohydrate, tritium citrate dihydrate, ethanol, 2-hydroxypropyl-8 cyclodextrin, polysorbate 80, and sodium chloride. The vaccine is not recommended for people allergic to any of these ingredients. All of this information is available online via the QR code imprinted on the back of the box as long as this vaccine is being authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The European Medicines Agency, EMA, has released all the details about this vaccine.
It must be noted that this vaccine has not been administered in North Macedonia since the beginning of the immunization process and it has not been announced that negotiations have been held with the company to deliver it in the country.
Due to all the above, we consider that this post has missing context. While it is true that the insert is left mostly blank, this is a deliberate decision that is explained and highlighted on the packaging itself, as the company decided to redirect users to read the instructions for use online so they can access the latest and the most up-to-date information about it, after possible audits by the Food and Drug Administration.
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This article has been produced as part of the Rapid Response to Vaccine Disinformation Project, implemented by the Metamorphosis Foundation. It was originally published in Truthmeter, and is made possible by the support of (BTD – The Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States). The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Metamorphosis, BTD or their partners.
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