The Veterans Health Administration on Tuesday temporarily suspended administration of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccination after reports of up to a half dozen recipients in the United States experienced blood clots following the injection.
“Currently, 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 J&J vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
“All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination,” the VA said in a news release.
“According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, as of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine have been administered in the U.S. As of April 13, 2021, just over 100,000 persons had been given the Janssen vaccine from VA,” the release said.
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center in Poplar Bluff, said public affairs officer Angela Smith, had used the Janssen vaccination at some of its rural clinics, but she doesn’t believe it had been used at the main hospital unless someone specifically asked for it.
The advantage to the Janssen vaccination, Smith said, is “it requires only one shot.
“So when we take the vaccination clinic out somewhere, it’s been more convenient for those veterans to have to come one time.”
Those already scheduled to receive the Janssen vaccination will be rescheduled to get the Moderna version, Smith said.
Veterans, Smith said, can call 573-686-4151 and select option “2” to schedule an appointment for a vaccination.