Nebraska and South Dakota will stop distributing the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine while federal officials investigate six reports of people developing blood clots after receiving that shot, including one case in the Omaha area.
. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was a relatively small part of Nebraska’s immediate plans; officials expected only 3,300 doses this week following 27,600 doses last week. That’s compared to 90,250 doses of the other Pfizer and Moderna vaccines scheduled to arrive this week.
Panhandle Public Health District Executive Director Kim Engel says those in the region who were scheduled to get Johnson and Johnson will be contacted in the coming days to reschedule. There is no change for those getting the other 2 vaccines.
South Dakota Sec of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon is asking vaccine providers to put Johnson & Johnson shots on hold for the time being. She says the state has administered nearly 16,000 doses of it so far.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration asked for a pause Tuesday following reports of blood clots developing in six people in the U.S. who had received the vaccine, which was developed for Johnson and Johnson by Janssen.
Federal authorities said all six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination.