Federal Health Officials asked States to 'Pause" Johnson and Johnson Vaccine Distribution over Potential Blood Clots
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine clinic scheduled for Saturday at the Fayette County Fairgrounds has been put on hold, according to county officials.
“The State notified me this morning that, out of an abundance of caution, all Johnson and Johnson shot clinics have been placed on hold. This is due to a recommendation from the federal authorities to pause providing the vaccines in response to reported cases of blood clots,” said Fayette County Chief of Emergency Management Craig Moreau.
The FDA and CDC are currently reviewing six cases involving people who developed blood clots after receiving the vaccine.
“Six cases out of more than 6.8 million doses administered is a fraction of a percentage point, but must still be addressed. In other parts of the word similar vaccine efforts were paused but have since been restarted because the benefits of receiving a Covid vaccination outweighed the risks. We will have to wait and see if the FDA comes to the same conclusions. ” Moreau said.
The drive-through shot clinic being held Friday will still go forward. St. Marks Hospital, in conjunction with the Texas Military Branch, will be administering the Moderna vaccination. People wanting the vaccination need to register on St. Mark’s website at www.smmctx.org or call 979-242-2325. The drive through will be held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.
A second dose clinic will be held at the fairgrounds on Monday, April 19, for those people who received their first dose on March 22.
“We are also offering a Pfizer shot clinic from 9 – 11 Saturday at the Fairgrounds, specifically for 16 and 17 year olds. We only have 100 doses so it’s a first come, first serve basis. A parent must accompany the teen-ager,” he said.
“The Moderna shot clinic scheduled for this Friday may be one of the last opportunities for people to get vaccinated in a drive-through clinic. The hub in Washington County has notified us that they are going to close their shot clinic at the end of the month. We will hold one more second dose clinic in May for people who receive their first shot on Friday, but we are reevaluating the need for these large drive through clinics. Our goal from the beginning of the vaccine effort has been to get vaccines to the doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies that know their patients best. We are close to making this goal a reality.”
