MADISON, WI (WTAQ-Reuters) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is stopping the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for now.
State officials say the move is out of an abundance of caution after CDC and FDA officials recommended vaccinators pause the distribution of the vaccine amid reports that some patients have developed blood clots.
Six patients nationwide have reported blood clots after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. All the six recipients were women between the ages of 18 and 48. One woman died and a second in Nebraska has been hospitalized in critical condition, the New York Times reported, citing officials.
State officials on Tuesday tried to alleviate any worries.
“This is proof that our federal agencies are monitoring safety, and are taking action to make sure nothing is seriously wrong,” said Deputy DHS Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk.
There are concerns that the news will drive vaccine hesitancy.
Bellin Health COO Sharla Baenen says that the other vaccine manufacturers have “upped their game” and that there aren’t concerns that the health system will have any difficulty distributing vaccine this week.
Only about 4% of people vaccinated in Wisconsin received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a joint statement that the adverse events appear to be extremely rare right now.
As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States.
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