The recommended pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for COVID-19 has been lifted, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The pause was recommended after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
“During the pause, medical and scientific teams at the FDA and CDC examined available data to assess the risk of thrombosis involving the cerebral venous sinuses, or CVST (large blood vessels in the brain), and other sites in the body (including but not limited to the large blood vessels of the abdomen and the veins of the legs) along with thrombocytopenia, or low blood platelet counts,” the FDA said in a press release. “The teams at FDA and CDC also conducted extensive outreach to providers and clinicians to ensure they were made aware of the potential for these adverse events and could properly manage and recognize these events due to the unique treatment required for these blood clots and low platelets, also known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).”
The two agencies ultimately determined the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
“Safety is our top priority. This pause was an example of our extensive safety monitoring working as they were designed to work—identifying even these small number of cases. We’ve lifted the pause based on the FDA and CDC’s review of all available data and in consultation with medical experts and based on recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. We have concluded that the known and potential benefits of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older. We are confident that this vaccine continues to meet our standards for safety, effectiveness and quality. We recommend people with questions about which vaccine is right for them have those discussions with their health care provider,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., Acting FDA Commissioner.
Locally, about 19% of residents in Hart County are considered fully vaccinated, according to data from the Department of Public Health. In total, about 10,435 vaccines have been administered in Hart County.
The Hart County Health Department is still operating a vaccine clinic at Flat Shoals Baptist Church, located at 2999 Bowersville Highway, but starting May 3 the clinic will only operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Walk-ins will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday and on Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. The clinic will close for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. On Friday, the clinic will close at 12 p.m.
Cases of COVID-19 remain relatively low in Hart County. In the past two weeks, there have been just 10 new cases reported in Hart County, according to DPH data.