Johnson & Johnson vaccine update

Like many, you may be asking if the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is safe for you or a loved one. That's why, as your health care provider, we want to make sure you have the latest, most accurate information about the vaccine. 

You can learn more by reading this fact sheet by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In the meantime, here are some key highlights.

• The Centers for Disease Control and the FDA have lifted a temporary pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. 
• The pause was taken out of an abundance of caution to investigate a rare type of blood clot that formed in 15 people out of the 8 million that received the vaccine.
• Most people who developed these blood clots were females ages 18 through 49 years.
• After an independent committee reviewed the risks and benefits, the CDC and FDA have determined that the vaccine is safe 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. 
• Individuals who receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are encouraged to monitor for headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, and/or shortness of breath, and contact their healthcare provider or seek medical attention immediately, should any of these symptoms occur. 
• All three vaccine options - Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - are effective for keeping people out of the hospital and preventing death.

At Providence, we partner with our local health authorities to administer COVID-19 vaccines in our communities. Up to this point, we have primarily administered the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Now, if included in our supplies, we will administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine per the CDC and FDA. Supply and availability will vary at different vaccination sites. Be sure to choose a vaccination site that is offering the vaccine you intend to receive.

Getting vaccinated is an important way that we can protect ourselves and our loved ones. It's also a key path to ending the pandemic, so we can get back to a sense of normalcy. We recognize getting vaccinated is a personal decision. That's why we're encouraging everyone to learn more, so you can decide what's right for you. 

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The Providence News Team brings you the updates to keep you informed about what's happening across the organizational ecosystem. From partnerships to new doctor announcements, we are committed to keeping you informed.

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