U.S. health agencies are calling for an immediate pause in using the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because of rare blood clots. The FDA and CDC are recommending a temporary halt to the "one and done" vaccine while they review the data. Six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed blood clots a week or two after they were vaccinated. One woman died and another is hospitalized in critical condition.
Meantime, Massachusetts and Connecticut officials have opted to pause distribution of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
A spokesman for the state's COVID-19 command center said none of the six cases are known to be linked to Massachusetts, and that individuals who have received a J&J shot should contact their physicians if they have any concerns.
People who are scheduled to receive a J&J vaccine are encouraged to contact the provider with whom they booked the shot with any questions about their upcoming appointments. The experts have indicated that there probably is enough of a supply of the other vaccines to get communities through without backing up the lines.
Governor Baker has often times spoken about the importance of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a game-changer for the state's vaccine distribution strategy. The Governor says the single shot vaccine would move the lines quite quickly.
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