J&J shots resume

COLUMBUS – The state has given COVID-19 vaccine providers in Ohio the go-ahead to resume administering the Johnson & Johnson shot after U.S. health officials lifted a pause on the use of the drug.

Officials lifted the 11-day pause Friday following a recommendation by an expert panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the benefits of the single-dose shot outweigh a rare risk of blood clots such as those reported by a small number of women.

“Our country’s vaccine safety system has worked as designed – these extremely rare, serious blood-clotting events were reported into the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, and the vaccine distribution was paused to allow a thorough review of the facts and time to educate healthcare providers on the rare events,” DeWine wrote in a statement released shortly after the decision was announced.

“A comprehensive analysis by the independent medical professionals on the ACIP has resulted in the recommendation that the benefits of Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the risks, and that vaccine administration resume,” he said.

The CDC and Food and Drug Administration decided that J&J’s vaccine is critical to fight the pandemic — and that the small clot risk could be handled with warnings to help younger women decide if they should use that shot or an alternative.

According to the FDA, people who have received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and develop shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms (including severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision), or petechiae beyond the site of vaccination should seek immediate medical care, according to DeWine’s office.

Additional information on mass vaccination clinics, mobile vaccine strategies, and specific sites resuming Johnson & Johnson were not available.

Coping With Coronavirus: Information on vaccinations, the latest data, helpful advice for parents, and links to resources for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio

Starting Monday, COVID-19 vaccines will be available at Columbus Public Health for walk-ins Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and at the Celeste Center on the grounds of the Ohio Expo Center Monday-Saturday from noon until 3:00 p.m.

OhioHealth announced that starting Tuesday, it will offer first shot vaccinations for walk-ins without an appointment from Noon to 2:00 p.m. at the OhioHealth David P. Blom Administrative Campus at 3430 OhioHealth Pkwy. These walk-in times will be held from through Friday, April 30.

The state reported that 3.5 million Ohioans, or 30.05% of the state’s total population, have been fully immunized against COVID-19.

Fewer than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Ohio Sunday, the lowest number in a month, though numbers of new cases reported on weekends are usually lower than those reported during the rest of the week.

There were 873 new cases reported, bringing the total number of Ohioans sickened by the coronavirus to 1,054,306.

The pandemic has claimed the lives of 19,122 Ohioans, according to the most recent data from the state Department of Health.

The number of hospital admissions grew by 44 to a total of 55,685. There were 1,178 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Ohio hospitals on Sunday.

The seven-day average positivity rate was 4.5%.

Ohio’s statewide incidence rate is currently 185.8 cases per 100,000 residents.

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OhioHealth has announced that it will allow two visitors each day for inpatient department patients in its 12 hospitals. only.

The visitors will be able to leave the patient room or hospital and come back into the building.

All visitors will be required to wear a mask, except while eating, and must be free of COVID-19 symptoms.

Exceptions will be made for patients in unique medical situations, including maternity patients and patients receiving end-of-life care.