Local adjustments have been swift after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration urged a “pause” in administering Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
Concerns about severe clotting in rare circumstances among women between the ages of 18 and 48 caused the recommendation from the federal agencies, and local entities were quick to follow suit. Flint Hills Community Health Center is stopping its use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until further notice, although Thursday’s primary dose clinic will continue because it still has about 1,500 of the two-dose Moderna vaccines readily available.
People who had signed up for the Johnson & Johnson shot will be given the chance to switch to the Moderna vaccine or cancel their appointment.
Meanwhile, Haag Pharmacy has canceled its clinics set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday because those were set up with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in mind. Owner Amber Haag:
People who had already slotted an appointment will have the option of going on a temporary wait list or going elsewhere, including the Health Center or Newman Regional Health, for vaccinations.
Haag says there is a possibility clinics could be rescheduled for this week, but those would involve the Moderna vaccine and the pharmacy won’t know whether it’s getting those doses until either late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Millbern says the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has given Lyon County some leeway in how long it holds vaccines before extra doses go back to the state, and Public Health also has the option of using community partners on short notice if needed. It’s unclear if doses from Public Healh will go to Haag Pharmacy or other community partners in light of what has transpired Tuesday.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment says no clotting cases have been reported in Kansas so far, but it is also pausing its administration of the vaccines. It should have nearly 40,000 doses of the Pfizer primary doses and another 38,000 of the booster shots available this week. There should be another 29,000 doses of the Moderna primary vaccine and nearly 28,000 of the booster doses available statewide.
Johnson & Johnson says there is no “clear causal relationship” between the vaccine and the clotting, but the company is focused on the safety and well-being of the people using its products. It continues to work with experts and regulators to assess data and relay information to healthcare professionals and the public.
Lyon County Public Health says people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and have developed a severe headache, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks of getting vaccinated should see their primary care provider. KHE also says people who have these symptoms can go online to https://vaers.hhs.gov.
KVOE will keep you abreast of the ongoing COVID-19 response efforts at the local level. Millbern joins Thursday’s Newsmaker slot at 7:15 am.
7:15 am Tuesday: Haag Pharmacy cancels this week’s Johnson & Johnson vaccination clinics after FDA, CDC request follows reports of blood clots
The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration are calling for an immediate pause for the use of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine.
The move follows the discovery of six cases, all in women between ages 18 and 48, of severe blood clotting within two weeks of vaccination. The FDA and CDC say the type of clot is rare but caution is needed going forward. This step comes with almost 7 million doses of the single-shot vaccine already administered.
Johnson & Johnson says there is no “clear causal relationship” between the vaccine and the clotting, but the company is focused on the safety and well-being of the people using its products. It continues to work with experts and regulators to assess data and relay information to healthcare professionals and the public.
Haag Pharmacy owner Amber Haag says her business will put a halt on its clinics set for Thursday through Saturday. The pharmacy will call patients that had already scheduled appointments to let them know their slots have been canceled.
Flint Hills Community Health Center has Johnson & Johnson doses available for a clinic Thursday. The Health Center hasn’t announced its plans for moving forward.
