TCHD pauses distribution after recommendations from FDA, CDC
Vernal, UT April 13, 2021 – TriCounty Health Department (TCHD) announces April 13, 2021 that distribution of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine is on pause until further notice.
The pause in distribution is a recommendation out of an abundance of caution and in response, TCHD is erring on the side of caution and pausing distribution while investigations take place through the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The FDA and CDC announced a national pause of distribution after discovering six individuals (out of 6.8 million) experiencing blood clot after 13 days of having received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly 77,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson have been administered in Utah with no reports of blood clots among these patients.
In announcements from FDA and CDC to the media on April 13, 2021, it was announced that out of 180 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer (mRNA vaccines) there has been no evidence of individuals being diagnosed with this blood clot. Announcements explained these blood clots are very rare and are a response from the individual’s immune system responding to the vaccine.
Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D, Director of FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research during a public briefing on April 13, 2021 explained that providers need to be aware if they see people with low platelets or blood clots, they need to ask for a history of vaccination before determining steps in treatment.
Treatment for this blood clot is different from treatment that might typically be administered. The blood clot has been seen in women under 50 with symptoms occurring between six and 13 days after receiving the vaccine.
TCHD reminds the public this is rare and only 6 individuals out of 6.8 million have been diagnosed.
TCHD is committed to public health and safety, the risks from the pandemic are significant. Vaccination will continue throughout the Uintah Basin, TCHD will continue to hold drive through vaccination clinics at TCHD in Vernal and USU in Roosevelt using Moderna only for the time being.
Healthcare providers can report adverse effects from vaccines here t https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html
Get further information at www.tricountyhealth.com/local-covid-update
The full briefing from FDA and CDC can be found on the FDA’s YouTube page.
# # #
TriCounty Health, Serving For Health