DHS instructs all vaccine providers in Wisconsin to stop administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, April 13, recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services followed their lead, instructing Wisconsin vaccine providers to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
“We are pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution. At this time, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Vaccine providers should not administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at this time, and should hold on to the vaccine until federal review has been completed.”
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
Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered.
— U.S. FDA (@US_FDA) April 13, 2021
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
In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said it was investigating blood clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet counts. DHS said they have instructed providers to hold onto the vaccine until the review has been completed.
"Unlike the other vaccines, it’s the only one that can be kept in the refrigerator,” Hayatt Pharmacy Director Hashim Zaibak said.
Zaibak said this has not impacted their ability to vaccinate everyone who wants an appointment due to decreased demand overall, and the fact that the vaccine makes up only about ten percent of their appointments.
DHS said this will not have a major impact on their supply. To date, 96 percent of Wisconsin vaccinations have used either Pfizer or Moderna.
More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. U.S. federal distribution channels, including mass vaccination sites, will pause the use of the J&J shot, and states and other providers are expected to follow.
The Wisconsin DHS says vaccine providers should continue to hold the vaccine at proper storage and continue timely reporting of any adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS). This pause will allow CDC to determine if there are any further cases of this clotting disorder and to provide health care providers with guidance on how to treat this rare condition.
.@DHSWI is advising providers to hold onto the vaccines until the review is completed. One of those providers said they put them in the freezer this morning, so they could be available after the review https://t.co/8fL6zf4yLc
— Brendan Cullerton (@BCullerton) April 13, 2021
“There is still a lot to learn about how the vaccine might cause the problems that occurred in the six patients, which included blood clots around the brain and low platelets, but they do appear to be very rare,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer for DHS. “For residents who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, be in contact with your health care provider if you have a severe headache or new vision problems during the first two weeks after receiving the vaccine.”
People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should monitor for the following symptoms three weeks after their vaccination: severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath. Symptoms associated with these severe events have occurred six to 13 days after vaccine receipt. Contact your health care provider and use the v-safe program(link is external) to report your symptoms.
“If you experience these symptoms, especially in that time frame, please contact your provider,” DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said.
DHS says the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines continue to remain extremely safe vaccines. DHS encourages everyone eligible to get the vaccine to continue with their vaccination, especially in light of variants. Wisconsin continues to have a good supply of these vaccines; 96% of the doses administered in the state have been Pfizer and Moderna.
“So far, there have been no reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis with low platelets in anyone who has received one of the mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines,” said Dr. Westergaard. “The FDA, CDC, and DHS continue to recommend the use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at this time, while the adverse events related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine continue to be investigated.”