Dear NEOMED Campus Community,
On April 13, the CDC and FDA, out of an abundance of caution, recommended a temporary pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. This pause was advised to allow for investigation of very rare reports of an unusual type of blood clot that occurred in six individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In response, Gov. DeWine’s office asked that vaccine providers in Ohio temporarily pause administration of the J&J vaccine during this investigation.
NEOMED and Rootstown Community Pharmacy are closely monitoring this situation and adhering to these recommendations. We encourage those individuals who have recently received the J&J vaccine to follow the guidance of the CDC and FDA and seek medical attention if you develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination.
While some may find this news concerning, it is important to recognize that this pause demonstrates that the monitoring and safety mechanisms in place are working as they are supposed to. COVID-19 vaccines remain an essential tool to end the pandemic. We continue to strongly urge all members of our community who have not yet been vaccinated to seek opportunities to do so with the currently available vaccines.
Read the joint statement from the FDA and CDC
Read the statement from Gov. DeWine’s office
Sincerely,
Joseph Zarconi, M.D., F.A.C.P
University Medical Director, COVID-19 Operations