COLUMBUS – Ohio is calling for a temporary halt to dispensing the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while the federal government investigates reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.
In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommended a “pause” in administering the vaccine as the agencies said they were investigating clots in six women in the days after vaccination, in combination with reduced platelet counts.
Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud, and Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff advised all Ohio vaccine providers to temporarily pause using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases and the FDA has also launched an investigation into the cause of the clots and low platelet counts.
More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S.
About 9 million doses have been delivered to states and are awaiting administration, according to CDC data.