The risk of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, paused by health officials Tuesday because it is tentatively linked to a rare type of blood clot, is low relative to similar risks posed by COVID-19 and other medications in common use. Yet the pause could be costly in terms of slowing the vaccine rollout to rural areas and making it harder to win over people reluctant to get vaccinated.

On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended pausing the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six women between the ages 18 to 48 developed a blood clot within six to 13 days of receiving the shot.