The state presses the pause button on the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine after a recommendation from the CDC and FDA that they are reviewing six cases to see if the vaccine is linked to blood clots. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they are doing so out of an abundance of caution and while it’s disappointing, he is encouraged by the process.
“At the end of the day it actually gives me assurances that the safety monitoring system is functioning the way it’s supposed to,” said Kanter.
Kanter said so far of the 85,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered in Louisiana no adverse reactions have been reported and of the overall number of all vaccines administered in the state, Johnson & Johnson accounts for just 3.7-percent.
“So numerically it’s a very small percentage of it and we were even going to get less Johnson and Johnson next week because of the supply issues,” said Kanter.
The six cases of blood clots occurred in females under the age of 50, six to thirteen days after their injection. Kanter said if you did receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the last two weeks be aware of the following symptoms of a blood clot.
“Severe headache, severe abdominal pain, new leg pain or cramping, chest pain or shortness of breath, you should consult with your doctor or seek other medical advice,” said Kanter.
The CDC and FDA are meeting this week to review the six cases involving blood clots to see if they have a connection to the vaccine. Approximately 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson have been administered in the U.S.
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