Use of Johnson and Johnson vaccine paused in Washington County

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Following CDC and FDA recommendations, Three Rivers Public Health Department announced Tuesday it will pause use of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

On April 8th, DHHS, the Douglas County Health Department, and Nebraska Medicine consulted with CDC and FDA about a rare and severe type of blood clot diagnosed in a Nebraska resident. On April 13th, CDC and FDA released a joint statement recommending a pause on Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccinations nationwide while more investigation is completed.

Three Rivers Public Health Department has done clinics with the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccinations. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be provided in place of the other vaccine until further notice.

"Vaccine safety is closely monitored by healthcare providers and local, state, and federal partners," said Terra Uhing, executive director at Three Rivers Public Health Department. "While only six instances of this severe clotting event have been identified among approximately 6.8 million who have received the J&J/Janssen vaccine across the U.S., the pause is a transparent and deliberate decision to allow time for a thorough review and investigation." 

Any potential adverse reactions to vaccines should be reported into the CDC's vaccine adverse events reporting system (VAERS, https://vaers.hhs.gov).

coronavirus, vaccine