Missouri joins states pausing use of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced the state has paused the use of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine after multiple reports of rare blood clots were announced.
Local health agencies are also stopping their use of the vaccine.
Missouri has joined several other states which also announced they were pausing use of the vaccine.
US officials with the FDA and CDC received at least six reports of the adverse side effects possibly linked to the vaccine. Federal officials recommended states pause J&J vaccinations while the adverse side effects are investigated.
None of the cases were reported in Missouri.
Several other states also announced Tuesday morning they were pausing the use of the J&J vaccine.
Hear the White House's comments on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine developments in the video below.
Missouri health department director Dr. Randall Williams included a statement in the news release, "In an abundance of caution, and as per federal guidelines, we are pausing vaccination with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine until further notice in Missouri."
Williams said more information would be released soon on the distribution of the vaccine and asked hospitals and clinics to keep additional vaccine supply in storage.
The health department said anyone who has received the J&J vaccine and has developed headaches, leg pain, abdominal pain, shortness of breath within three weeks of being vaccinated should contact their health care provider.
The vaccine is a single dose, unlike the other vaccines approved in the US which both require two doses.
Cole County Health Department Director Kristi Campbell announced a vaccination clinic planned for Thursday has been canceled. Campbell said in a release the vaccine is supposed to be used at the event.
It wasn't immediately clear when or if the vaccination event would be rescheduled.
People who had scheduled an appointment at the event were encouraged to reschedule their appointments on the state's vaccine website.
The county's permanent vaccination site located inside the Capital Mall opened on Monday. Campbell said Pfizer's two-dose vaccine will be given out at the site moving forward.
The Audrain County Health Department in a news release said it would stop giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until further testing takes place. The department said it's contacting Audrain County residents with appointments for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Those residents will be offered Moderna's two-dose vaccine instead.
