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April 13, 2021

J&J vaccinations suspended after federal warning

PHOTO | Courtesy Johnson & Johnson
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Area hospitals, clinics and municipalities announced Tuesday they are pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 following concerns raised by federal officials. 

A warning from the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated the vaccine has been linked to blood clots in six U.S. patients.

According to the CDC, as of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been administered in the U.S.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the city in “an abundance of caution” is pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine indefinitely.

“Until we have further clearance from the CDC and authorization from the state regarding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the city will be using the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines at all COVID-19 clinics in New Haven.”

New Haven Director of Public Health Maritza Bond said a mobile vaccination clinic in partnership with Griffin Hospital, originally planned for Tuesday, would be postponed until Wednesday. 

All clinics scheduled for this week will use either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, Bond said.

The Yale New Haven Health system, which includes Yale New Haven Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and  Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island, is taking the same precaution.

“We have paused the use of the J&J vaccine until more is known about its safety,” said John Cappiello, Media Relations Coordinator for Bridgeport Hospital. “In the meantime, we continue to use the Moderna and Pfizer COVID vaccines.”

According to the CDC, the six cases involved women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after they were vaccinated.

In these cases, a blood clot called “cerebral venous sinus thrombosis” was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets, the CDC noted. 

The CDC indicated it would be convening a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday to review the cases and significance. The FDA is conducting an investigation also.

The agencies recommended health workers pause using the vaccine “out of an abundance of caution.”

“Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” the CDC indicated.

The agency noted that anyone who has been vaccinated and develops symptoms such as severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks should contact their health care provider.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health noted that the adverse events are rare, and none of the six cases occurred here in Connecticut. On Tuesday, it recommended that vaccine providers hold off on giving the J&J vaccine until the federal review is completed.

According to the DPH, approximately 100,000 Connecticut residents have received the J&J vaccine with no reported serious adverse events.

It noted that some residents will have to reschedule their appointments.

Hartford HealthCare (HHC) announced an immediate halt to use of the J&J vaccine at its sites including the Connecticut Convention Center, Foxwoods Resort Casino, MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital in Willimantic.

“We have adjusted our vaccine distribution in every one of our vaccines clinics to provide only Pfizer and Moderna products,” said Dr. James Cardon, HHC chief clinical integration officer. “We immediately followed the guidance of federal health agencies while the health concerns with J&J are being thoroughly investigated.”

The reported complications are serious but it’s important that providers wait for the results of federal studies, Cardon said at a news conference Tuesday. The blood clot disorder reported in relation to the J&J vaccine is an auto-immune condition and can develop spontaneously, he said. 

“We need to investigate but it’s really important we don’t undermine the benefits of [vaccination] with speculation,” Cardon said. 

Education and outreach has been helping change the minds of those who are “vaccine hesitant,” said Keith Grant, HHC senior system director for infection prevention. But the sudden halt of J&J shots can add to uncertainty, he added.

“It does add some cloud in a situation that already had some people very cautious,” Grant said.

Liese Klein contributed to this story.

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