Health

States rush to replace J&J vaccine appointments after FDA recommends pause


New York Heath Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said Tuesday the state will temporarily stop using Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine, and will use Pfizer’s vaccine in its place for already-scheduled appointments.

“Today the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] and [Food and Drug Administration] issued a statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” Zucker said in a statement.

“New York State will follow the CDC and FDA recommendation and pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine statewide immediately today while these health and safety agencies evaluate next steps,” he said. “All appointments for Johnson & Johnson vaccines today at New York State mass vaccination sites will be honored with the Pfizer vaccine.”

Other states, including Virginia and Connecticut, also took J&J’s vaccine doses out of their distribution plans.

The federal agencies recommended states temporarily halt using J&J’s vaccine after six women in the U.S., out of the nearly 7 million who have received the shot, developed a rare blood clotting disorder.

“As the CDC and FDA have said, any adverse events related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine ‘appear to be extremely rare’ and, ‘People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider,'” Zucker’s statement said.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.



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