MOHAVE COUNTY – Local vaccine providers in Mohave County have received the following information from the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Mohave County Department of Public Health regarding a “pause” on the administering of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Additionally, partners in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program including CVS, Walgreens, Fry’s/Smith’s, Walmart, Safeway, Albertsons, and Bashas’/Food City have also been informed and have reported they are not scheduling Johnson & Johnson vaccination appointments at this time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a joint statement earlier today recommending a pause in the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine “based on six reported U.S. cases, out of 6.8 million doses administered nationally, of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services supports this recommendation and has notified county health departments and providers of this position. These adverse events (cases) appear to be extremely rare and occur within two to three weeks of vaccination. The event is a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
Mohave County Health Director Denise Burley responded, “The Mohave County Department of Public Health will await the outcome of the investigation. Until the pause is lifted, we will only receive doses of the Moderna vaccine.”
Those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, should contact their health care provider. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority, and all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination are taken very seriously.
It is unknown at this time when the recommendation will be lifted and the use of the vaccine may resume.
