The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is directing a statewide pause in distribution of the “Janssen” COVID-19 vaccination manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, after …
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The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is directing a statewide pause in distribution of the “Janssen” COVID-19 vaccination manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, after reports in the U.S. of extremely rare, but dangerous blood clotting after vaccination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control issued a joint recommendation on Tuesday for states to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while a potential connection between the vaccine and blood clotting is reviewed. The recommendation, and Missouri’s statewide order, apply only to the J&J vaccine, and do not include the two-dose vaccinations manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer.
Dr. Randall Williams, director of Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services, said in a statement that the J&J vaccinations are being paused “in an abundance of caution.”
“We anticipate having more information shortly to make further decisions about overall vaccine distribution in light of this new development,” Williams added.
Out of the 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine administered in the U.S., there have so far been six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who received the J&J vaccine, according to the CDC. All six cases occurred among women aged 18 to 48, with symptoms occurring one to two weeks after vaccination.
The CDC said the pause in distribution will allow health agencies to gather more information, which will help health care providers be “aware of the potential for these adverse event and ... plan for proper recognition and management.”
Anyone who received the J&J vaccine, and develops severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, should contact their health care provider.
In Missouri, patients with other questions about the COVID vaccination are recommended to contact their health provider, or call the Missouri COVID-19 hotline at 877-435-8411.
Any vaccination providers with doses of the J&J vaccine in stock are being directed to keep them in storage with the label “quarantine – do not use” until further notice.
In Warren County, multiple vaccination providers had been administering a mix of Moderna and J&J vaccines.
