J & J vaccine "paused"

[Kestrel]

I'm so frustrated! After waffling for months, I had decided to get J & J vaccine and am scheduled to get it at a mass vaccine clinic this coming Saturday. This morning, everything came to a screeching halt as all J & J vaccines are "paused". All clinics canceled until further notice. So frustrating!

So, what does "paused" mean, exactly?


Edited to add: I meant all of _our_ vaccine clinics: we had four weekend days scheduled for April for J & J vaccine in our community, all four canceled.

[ezcc]

Gah! I wish I knew, my sister and bil live in South America- he came this week to try and get that one so he wouldn't have to come back. Terrible timing- now he needs to decide if they will allow it before he leaves on Sunday or just get another one and plan to come back in 3 weeks. I have heard a few days but who knows. It does seem that the risk is very small, but I guess I see that they want to take a closer look.

[carolinamama]

It is frustrating but it's also comforting in that the FDA and CDC are following safety mechanisms very carefully. Since it's also an adenovirus vector vaccine, like the AstaZeneca vaccine, it's prudent to compare clotting rates with the background rate and tease out correlation vs. causation. I'm guessing this also made them quick to pause. Do you follow Dear Pandemic, Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist, or Your Local Epidemiologist? They are calmly discussing everything as it happens.

Paused until they get to the bottom of exactly what is happening, what is the risk of clotting happening. Sadly, it probably means that the US vaccination rates won't continue at their current rate but we can be reassured vaccinations are as safe as possible.

[essnce629]

Sadly, it probably means that the US vaccination rates won't continue at their current rate but we can be reassured vaccinations are as safe as possible.

I watched the Dr. Fauci press briefing this morning and he said this shouldn't slow down things in the US. That they are operating in a "war time" mode and have planned for contingencies. He said over 28 million vaccines are going out this week alone and that those that were scheduled for J&J are just a small number. It sounded like those who were scheduled for J&J (my appointment is Thursday) should be able to just get Pfizer or Moderna instead. I guess I'll find out when I show up for mine!

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[JustMe]

I watched the Dr. Fauci press briefing this morning and he said this shouldn't slow down things in the US. That they are operating in a "war time" mode and have planned for contingencies. He said over 28 million vaccines are going out this week alone and that those that were scheduled for J&J are just a small number. It sounded like those who were scheduled for J&J (my appointment is Thursday) should be able to just get Pfizer or Moderna instead. I guess I'll find out when I show up for mine!

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That's great news!

[mmsmom]

In my area they have said anyone scheduled for J&J will be offered Pfizer instead. They are not canceling any appts or clinics. I hope they get it figured out soon.

[ett]

In my area they have said anyone scheduled for J&J will be offered Pfizer instead. They are not canceling any appts or clinics. I hope they get it figured out soon.


In my area some people scheduled for J&J are getting the Pfizer or Moderna instead but others have had their appointment cancelled.

[carolinamama]

I watched the Dr. Fauci press briefing this morning and he said this shouldn't slow down things in the US. That they are operating in a "war time" mode and have planned for contingencies. He said over 28 million vaccines are going out this week alone and that those that were scheduled for J&J are just a small number. It sounded like those who were scheduled for J&J (my appointment is Thursday) should be able to just get Pfizer or Moderna instead. I guess I'll find out when I show up for mine!

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That's good to know. I hate it for the people uncomfortable with the mRNA platform who were choosing J&J. Several friends are in that camp and I know they are stressed now.

[mom2binsd]

I'm so frustrated! After waffling for months, I had decided to get J & J vaccine and am scheduled to get it at a mass vaccine clinic this coming Saturday. This morning, everything came to a screeching halt as all J & J vaccines are "paused". All clinics canceled until further notice. So frustrating!

So, what does "paused" mean, exactly?

I know in Chicago they just switched people to the Pfizer so they won't be canceling the appointments.

[mom2binsd]

My teacher friend in Ontario, Canada is so frustrated. She is 53 and so doesn't qualify yet for a vaccine up there, as they are woefully behind in getting vaccinations out. She had hoped to get J&J but she was on BC for 30 years, not anymore but she is now thinking not as all 6 of the people who had blood clots were women age 18-48 (no word yet on if they were all on BC).

To top it all off the government has changed their mind as after their delayed Spring Break they just found out they aren't going back to work and they are on their 3rd major "lockdown", it's very different in Canada, they limit how many people can gather and bylaw is called frequently (my niece who is 19 got a 800 ticket for being at her boyfriends house with 6 other people). Canada is struggling right now, when earlier they were doing so well. I am feeling like I'll never get back across the border to see my dad!

[petesgirl]

I have an appt scheduled for Saturday to get the J&J. I haven't gotten a notice of cancelation yet so I'm hoping they just swap it out for another one.

[gatorsmom]

My teacher friend in Ontario, Canada is so frustrated. She is 53 and so doesn't qualify yet for a vaccine up there, as they are woefully behind in getting vaccinations out. She had hoped to get J&J but she was on BC for 30 years, not anymore but she is now thinking not as all 6 of the people who had blood clots were women age 18-48 (no word yet on if they were all on BC).

To top it all off the government has changed their mind as after their delayed Spring Break they just found out they aren't going back to work and they are on their 3rd major "lockdown", it's very different in Canada, they limit how many people can gather and bylaw is called frequently (my niece who is 19 got a 800 ticket for being at her boyfriends house with 6 other people). Canada is struggling right now, when earlier they were doing so well. I am feeling like I'll never get back across the border to see my dad!

Any idea why Canada is so far behind? I read the other day from a journalist in Toronto that their positive cases are through the roof. It’s scary to think we could be in another major lockdown.

[mom2binsd]

Canada has to buy the vaccines from other countries.

The way they chose to do long term care is also seriously flawed (I work in long term care in the US but am from Canada). In the US all staff was offered the vaccine along with residents, which makes total sense. In Canada they only offered to the residents, so anyone coming into contact with the residents (aids, nurses, dietary, housekeeping) were not vaccinated.

It also seems the variants seem to be taking over up there. They have been so much more closed up than anywhere in the US for the last few months but cases rising. Their hospitals are also at capacity, but there is a shortage of doctors and nurses (many leave Canada for better money in the US).

When I talk to family and friends they are shocked at what we are allowed to do here, and I'm in Illinois where we were under stricter guidelines than many states.

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[georgiegirl]

The university I work for had a J&J event planned for Friday (for students and staff and their families), and today they sent out an email saying it was switched to Pfizer

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ds1 was scheduled to get on campus but it was cancelled. Now I don’t have a good plan because he can get dose 1 there but I haven’t figured out how to get a 2nd dose scheduled somewhere else. I’m sure there’s a good solution out there but I haven’t had the time today to research.


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[specialp]

Ds1 was scheduled to get on campus but it was cancelled. Now I don’t have a good plan because he can get dose 1 there but I haven’t figured out how to get a 2nd dose scheduled somewhere else. I’m sure there’s a good solution out there but I haven’t had the time today to research.


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It is much easier now so I wouldn't anticipate a problem. Both CVS and Walgreens allow you to select "second dose only" when scheduling, our health departments will as well, and I'm sure others do. It was very difficult in Feb.

[SnuggleBuggles]

It is much easier now so I wouldn't anticipate a problem. Both CVS and Walgreens allow you to select "second dose only" when scheduling, our health departments will as well, and I'm sure others do. It was very difficult in Feb.

That's good. It's been about 2 weeks since I last needed to look for an appointment and none said 2nd dose at that time.

[AnnieW625]

Dh (46) had J&J on Monday and yesterday had mild aches and pains. Overall he is happy he was able to get it. I hope they can figure out the blood clot side effect soon.

Kestrel I had zero side effects from Pfizer other than tiredness and a sore arm. I wouldn’t think twice about getting it unless there was a reason I couldn’t get it like severe allergic reactions to vaccines.


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[Myira]

I got the 1st Pfizer shot on Saturday. Other than slightly sore arm that day, I had no other symptoms. My arm was fine the next day. DH said he felt slightly feverish the next day. I would get it without hesitation.
We are both scheduled for a second shot in 3 weeks.

Our district had a vaccination clinic coming up for 18 and above and they’ve switched to moderna now.

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[carolinamama]

Ds1 was scheduled to get on campus but it was cancelled. Now I don’t have a good plan because he can get dose 1 there but I haven’t figured out how to get a 2nd dose scheduled somewhere else. I’m sure there’s a good solution out there but I haven’t had the time today to research.


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I would have him get the 1st dose as soon as he can and schedule a second one at home. Multiple locations are now giving 2nd doses to those who received the 1st elsewhere. Personally I'd want my kid getting the benefit of even the 1st dose sooner rather than later given the spread demographics right now.

[hwin708]

This does not create a supply issue in my area, but it does create a huge distribution issue. I've been volunteering throughout the whole distribution process, and the "one and done" shot is crucial to getting certain populations vaccinated. We had a big multi-location event scheduled for the start of next week targeting the homeless population that is now on hold. There is just no way to track that population for second doses, so the Johnson and Johnson shot was vital. Likewise, we target in so many working class communities where people have very tight schedules and are unwilling to commit to a second shot at a later time, so the one shot was our best bet at pulling them in and getting them vaccinated right then and there. Plus all the people with allergies who are convinced J&J is "safer" for them than the others.

Ugh, it's just so disappointing. I do some canvasing, and this has obviously added another reason to people's vaccine hesitance. We obviously try to focus on how the 1 in a million odds still make it much less likely than you getting coronavirus and developing a blood clot that way, and how this is actually a sign of how safe these vaccines are and how cautious health authorities are being. But it's so hard to get people to hear beyond a negative Facebook post.

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[bisous]

I would have him get the 1st dose as soon as he can and schedule a second one at home. Multiple locations are now giving 2nd doses to those who received the 1st elsewhere. Personally I'd want my kid getting the benefit of even the 1st dose sooner rather than later given the spread demographics right now.

I agree with this. With even just one dose of the MRNA vaccines you're still pretty protected. I'm sure you'll be able to find a second shot too!

[KrisM]

That's good. It's been about 2 weeks since I last needed to look for an appointment and none said 2nd dose at that time.


DS1 got his first at a walk-in site about an hour from home. I booked his second at CVS only 20 minutes away. It's not super obvious, but there is a link above the map on this page for scheduling dose 2 only. https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

[Kestrel]

hwin708 -

That is exactly what I mean. Is is more likely to get Covid AFTER being vaccinated than to get a blood clot from the vaccine! Our state (Washington) has 217 breakthrough covid cases so far, as opposed to 6 blood clot cases in the US. (I know this number may change since they are looking into it.)

Our low-income area went through a lot of stuff to prepare clinics for this month - vaccinating whole families at once, early morning and late evening appointments to let working folks get in, going into less affluent areas... and all down the tubes.

While it's great that some areas had enough supply to just switch brands, we don't. They canceled thousands of appointments for low-mid and low income people with no plans to reschedule.

[bisous]

hwin708 -

That is exactly what I mean. Is is more likely to get Covid AFTER being vaccinated than to get a blood clot from the vaccine! Our state (Washington) has 217 breakthrough covid cases so far, as opposed to 6 blood clot cases in the US. (I know this number may change since they are looking into it.)

Our low-income area went through a lot of stuff to prepare clinics for this month - vaccinating whole families at once, early morning and late evening appointments to let working folks get in, going into less affluent areas... and all down the tubes.

While it's great that some areas had enough supply to just switch brands, we don't. They canceled thousands of appointments for low-mid and low income people with no plans to reschedule.

On TWIV someone pointed out that the risk for blood clots is greater from birth control than from the vaccine, yet millions of women continue to take it anyway. It was definitely something to think about. I'm listening to a podcast right now that teased the idea of raising the concerns without withdrawing the possibility to use the vaccine entirely, just making sure people can be aware of the (potential) risks. Seems like a good idea to me!