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Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Update

April 13, 2021

Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Update

4/13/2021

The Kendall County Health Department is pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). This was done out of an abundance of caution due to six (6) cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, out of over 6.8 million doses given. There are no known cases in our county. These events appear to be extremely rare, and COVID-19 vaccine safety continues to be a top priority. In the meantime, Kendall County providers have been notified to use Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that are available.

 

What we know:

  • On April 13, 2021, the CDC and FDA recommended and IDPH required pausing the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after six recipients developed a rare and severe type of blood clot.
  • All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.
  • Adverse reactions to the vaccine are extremely rare. As of April 12, six cases of this rare blood clotting disorder were identified out of more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine administered in the United States.
  • The CDC and FDA are reviewing these cases, as well as data from other countries, and are taking these events very seriously.
  • A key reason for the pause is to ensure that doctors know to use the correct treatment for this type of blood clot. The treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be used. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this type of blood clot, using heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.

 

The safety of COVID-19 vaccines is a top priority and is being closely monitored.

  • There are multiple monitoring systems in place – including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), v-safe, and others – where any adverse reactions are reported. The CDC is closely reviewing this data for patterns.
  • This pause illustrates the value of public health vaccine monitoring. It is normal procedure to take a pause to review adverse event data and then make public health decisions going forward.
  • We expect to know more about the situation soon and will keep our community informed.

 

FAQs:

Q: Why are you pausing J&J vaccinations?

A: We are following the guidance of the CDC, FDA, and the IDPH-required pause for Johnson & Johnson vaccinations. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data for six cases of a rare blood clotting disorder that occurred out of 6.8 million people who received the J&J vaccine.

Q: Is KCHD cancelling vaccination appointments?

A: The Kendall County Health Department is using its supply of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine for appointments that are scheduled going forward. We did have to cancel appointments for 4.13.2021 due to the timing of the announcement to pause. Our partners are also being asked to pivot to other vaccine brands (if available) until we receive the recommendation to resume using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Q: I got J&J recently, do I need to worry?

A: We understand that this news may cause concern. Millions of people have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with no serious side effects. Serious reactions are extremely rare. The CDC says that if you got the vaccine several weeks ago, the risk of a reaction is very low. People who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider. Patients with other clinical questions should contact their health care provider.

Q: Will KCHD resume giving J&J vaccines in the future?

A: We will follow the recommendations of the CDC, FDA, and IDPH and will only resume Johnson & Johnson vaccinations when it is recommended. In the meantime, we continue offering vaccinations using our supply of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Q: How likely is it that someone would have an adverse reaction to J&J?

A: Adverse reactions to the vaccine are extremely rare. There were six reports of a rare blood clotting disorder out of 6.8 million doses given in the United States using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.


For more information on COVID-19, please visit our Kendall County Health Department COVID-19 information page. 

For more information on COVID-19 Vaccine, please visit our Kendall County Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine information page

Serving the Residents of Kendall County Since 1966
811 W. John Street, Yorkville, IL 60560   •   630-553-9100