COVID Update - J&J Vaccine Statement
04/14/2021
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently put on hold the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (shot). The hold is just a precaution because a very small number of patients have gotten a blood clot 6 to 13 days after they received their shot. There have been more than 6.8 million people who have gotten the Johnson & Johnson shot with only 6 patients getting a blood clot. This makes us continue to think the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe to get.
The cause of the blood clots has not been confirmed but it may be related to the vaccine. The reported blood clots seem to be related to a very rare immune system reaction that causes a decrease in platelets along with clotting. Platelets are the part of your blood that causes your blood to clot. We currently do not think that if you have had a blood clot before that you are at any higher risk for getting a blood clot now because of getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
If you begin having any of the symptoms below you should get medical help right away:
- Very bad headaches
- Pain or pressure in your chest
- Pain, redness, and swelling in your leg
- Trouble breathing
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Confusion
- New easy bruising
- Petechiae (Very small brown or purple, round, flat spots under the skin caused by bleeding)
Currently, there are no reports of getting blood clots after the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. People who get sick with COVID-19 are at a higher risk for getting a clot than people who have gotten the COVID-19 vaccine. IHTC supports COVID-19 vaccination to keep you from getting a severe infection or death related to COVID-19.