Bay Area Man Experiences Blood Clotting After J&J Shot: UCSF

SAN FRANCISO, CA — A Bay Area man in his 30s is suspected to be the first male in the country to develop a rare blood-clotting syndrome after receiving the Johnson and Johnson vaccine earlier this month, the University of California-San Francisco confirmed on Monday.

The university did not release more details about the man, whom a UCSF spokeswoman said developed vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia after receiving the J&J vaccine on April 8. The university said the man is believed to be the first male in the United States to experience blood clotting following the nationwide release of the vaccine on February 27.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called for a nationwide pause of the use of the J&J vaccines after 15 women developed blot clots after receiving the vaccine. The women were reported to be between 15 and 49, which led to the 11-day national pause, which is expected to be ended across the country as early as Monday.

According to the CDC, the chances of developing side effects experienced by the eight women remain very rare – at 0.008 percent.

In an emailed statement to Patch on Monday, UCSF said that the man was admitted to the university hospital 13 days after receiving the vaccine. The university said the man, who officials only described as being in his early 30s and living in the San Francisco Bay area, is making a good recovery and is expected to be released from the hospital in the next few days, the statement said.

The man was admitted to the hospital with escalating pain in his lower back and leg and received the recommended therapy for VITT, which includes intravenous immune globulin, the anticoagulant argatroban, and prednisone, the university said Monday.

California public health officials announced Sunday that the state would resume use of the J&J vaccine this week after the vaccine was deemed safe by the CDC and other health officials.

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup completed its evaluation of the shot on Saturday, just one day after the federal government gave the green light confirming its safety.

Nearly 1 million Californians have already been inoculated with the single shot vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday. Newsom, who received the J&J shot, said he trusts the vaccine, following the guidance of health officials.

"After additional review, analysis and scrutiny, experts have concluded the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe, effective and will protect you against the COVID-19 virus," the governor said. "To date, about a million Californians have already received this vaccine – including myself and many of the state's top doctors."

Last week, a spokesperson from the California Department of Public Health told Patch that there is "no information" as to whether any Californians had experienced blood-clotting after receiving the J&J vaccine.

In response to the Bay Area case, a spokesperson from the state health department said that "California is closely monitoring for any occurrence of these rare cases in the state. The pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is lifted, but patients will need assistance to learn about the risks and benefits of immunization."

Patch editor Kat Schuster contributed reporting.