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Tuesday, May. 11, 2021

Does a blank product insert inside a box of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine indicate anything untoward?

Dana Ford, Lead Stories

no

A video on social media implies that a blank insert in packaging of COVID-19 vaccine is unusual or perhaps even nefarious.

In fact, the insert's front and back panels were intentionally left blank, according to the makers of the vaccine. There is a QR code as well as website information on the back of the box — both of which guide medical professionals to updated fact sheets that list benefits, risks and vaccine ingredients.

Janssen's website has detailed descriptions and images of its COVID-19 vaccine labeling and packaging. It clearly states "1 product insert per carton — Note: the front and back panels of this insert were intentionally left blank."

Information on the box itself guides users to details on the FDA's emergency use authorization for the vaccine and updated fact sheets.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

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