UPMC, AHN To Follow FDA, CDC Recommendation To Pause Johnson And Johnson Vaccine
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- After the FDA and CDC's recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the Pittsburgh area is already seeing the impact.
UPMC says it is pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine right now, including use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the clinic at Pittsburgh Mills Mall. The clinic is still set to take place and UPMC says they are looking into alternative vaccines for distribution .
Allegheny Health Network also says it will pause the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but will continue to administer both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
"I wouldn't panic. Be calm. If you develop any symptoms, seek medical care. If they do develop the illness, it is treatable," Allegheny General Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Imran Qadeer said.
The symptoms to watch for include headache, abdominal pain, leg pain and shortness of breath within three weeks.
The FDA says they and the CDC have issued a statement regarding the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Today FDA and @CDCgov issued a statement regarding the Johnson & Johnson #COVID19 vaccine. We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution.
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021
The FDA says that of the nearly 7 million doses of the vaccine that have been given, six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot have been reported after receiving the vaccine.
As of 4/12, 6.8m+ doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC & FDA are reviewing data involving 6 reported U.S. cases of a rare & severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021
According to the New York Times, six women between the ages of 18 and 48 have reportedly developed rare disorders involving blood clots within two weeks of being vaccinated. One of the women died and a second has been hospitalized in Nebraska, according to the Times.
The FDA says they are recommending a pause of the use of the vaccine while the cases can be investigated.
Until that process is complete, we are recommending this pause. This is important to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021
AHN says if the FDA and CDC give the ok for Johnson & Johnson again, the health system will continue to use it.
Please join us via YouTube for an audio press conference at 10 a.m. EDT. We will keep the public updated as we learn more. https://t.co/fWguuQzhMR
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021
Stay with KDKA for more on this developing story.