The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday recommended the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for adults after an advisory panel agreed that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks from rare blood clots linked with the vaccine. 

"The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for persons 18 years of age and older in the U.S. population under the FDA, emergency use authorization," the experts convened by the CDC said.

Health authorities in the United States on April 14 proposed a halt on the vaccine following instances of severe blood clots among the millions of Americans who received shots of the vaccine. 

According to data presented Friday, of 3.9 million women who got the Johnson & Johnson shot, 15 developed serious blood clots and three died. 

(With input from agencies)