New Jersey will still keep its supply of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at the ready, despite its decision to suspend usage while health officials investigate potential blood clot dangers.
The New Jersey Department of Health is moving appointments for those who wanted the J&J shot to schedule them with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
But the pause means that efforts to vaccinate homebound people, the homeless and seasonal workers have become more complicated.
“This pause is just a reflection of how seriously the federal government is taking the safety of vaccines. All vaccine sites across New Jersey have taken doses – the Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses – out of inventory and will not use them until further federal guidance is provided,” Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said on Wednesday.
Federal officials recommended a pause on administering the vaccine after six women developed serious blood clots not long after receiving the shot.
More than 244,000 J&J shots have been administered – only about 4% of the total given out so far in New Jersey. The remaining doses will be put into cold storage for the time being.