Kings County Health Department announces Johnson & Johnson vaccine back on the shelf

By The Leader Staff
Kings County Health Department announces Johnson & Johnson vaccine back on the shelf

The Kings County Department of Public Health (KCDPH) announced Monday (April 26) that it will again start administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days, providing Kings County residents an additional vaccine option.

Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been available to Kings County residents. The Pfizer vaccine is approved for patients aged 16 and over, while the Moderna vaccine has been approved for 18 and older.

Kings County residents can now receive the medication that has been blamed for a minuscule (15) number of cases of thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). More than 7.9 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been administered nationally.

On Saturday, April 24, 2021, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup released a Summary of Discussion and Findings concluding that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is “generally safe and effective and that the resumption of its use is warranted.” This comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out a joint press release lifting the recommended pause of the vaccine following a thorough safety review.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued the following statement from Dr. Erica Pan, state epidemiologist: “After a thorough review of very rare adverse events following the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup supports the recommendation of the FDA and CDC to lift the pause on the vaccine. Clinics in California may begin administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine immediately as long as they provide appropriate educational materials to inform patients of the vaccine’s low risk of associated health effects and other available vaccine options.”

Local health officials added: “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine provides a one-shot option against COVID-19, and it has been determined that the benefits outweigh the risks associated with this particular vaccine,” said Edward Hill, Director of KCPDH. “Individuals should consider their options when selecting which vaccine will be best for them and take into consideration the possible side effects, as is the case with any other vaccine or medication.”

Of those few who experienced problems with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, symptoms began approximately 1-2 weeks after vaccination, and most were women under 50 years of age. Individuals should immediately seek medical attention if they develop the following symptoms several days after receiving the vaccine: shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, severe headaches or blurred vision, eyes burning, or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.

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