Following a thorough safety review, the CDC and FDA recommended last week that Janssen’s Johnson & Johnson one-dose COVID-19 vaccine continue to be used to prevent further spread of the virus.
This comes after health officials issued a temporary pause taken out of an abundance of caution to investigate a rare type of blood clot that formed in 15 people – mostly women under the age of 50 – out of the 8 million who received the vaccine.
After an independent committee reviewed the risks and benefits, the CDC and FDA have determined that the vaccine is safe for those 18 years old and older in the U.S. and effective for preventing COVID-19. They also concluded that the risk of having serious complications due to COVID-19 is more likely than the risk of a rare blood clot from the vaccine.
Those who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are encouraged to monitor for headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, and/or shortness of breath, and contact their health care provider or seek medical attention immediately, should any of these symptoms occur.
We partner with our local health authorities to administer COVID-19 vaccines in our communities. Up to this point, we have primarily administered Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Now, if included in our supplies, we will also administer that Johnson & Johnson vaccine per the CDC and FDA. Depending on supply and availability at different vaccination sites, individuals may be able to select which vaccine they receive.
As variants become more widespread and cases rise in some of our communities, continued vaccination is paramount to keep us safe and to put an end to this pandemic and get back to a sense of normalcy. But we know that getting vaccinated is a personal decision. We encourage people to talk with their health care provider and review the information available on the vaccines to help make a decision that’s right for them.
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