The OC Health Care Agency reacts to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine pause

(Santa Ana, CA) – Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an abundance of caution. This recommendation comes after six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe blood clot type in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This pause will be in place until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completes a review of the reported cases.

In alignment with the CDC’s recommendation and with safety as our top priority, the County of Orange has removed the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from all its vaccination Point of Distribution (POD) sites until further notice from the CDC. The County’s vaccination PODs will continue to dispense the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to individuals with appointments.

Link to CDC Media Release: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0413-JJ-vaccine.html

How many Johnson & Johnson vaccines has the County dispensed at its sites?

The OC Health Care Agency dispensed approximately 27,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine between the week of March 8 and April 12, 2021.

How rare is this side effect?

As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine have been administered in the U.S. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. There are reports that six women between the ages of 18 and 48 developed unusual types of blood clots 6 to 13 days after receiving the vaccine. 

I received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. What should I do? 

People who received the vaccine in the last three weeks should look for any symptoms of these unusual clots, including severe headaches, abdominal or leg pain, and shortness of breath, and contact their medical provider if symptoms develop. People who don’t have a medical provider can call 2-1-1 to connect with a healthcare provider.