Vernon Mobile Vaccination Clinic Makes Quick 'Pivot' To Moderna

VERNON, CT — Vernon officials made a quick switch from the Johnson & Johnson to the Moderna coronavirus vaccine Tuesday after an order by federal health organizations to shelve the former for precautionary reasons.

The one-dose J&J vaccine was on tap for a clinic at the regional Hockanum Valley Community Council social services agency Tuesday. The clients — about 100 — were given their initial Moderna shot and then scheduled for their boosters.

The federal Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tuesday morning recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday because of blood-clot concerns.

The FDA reported that, as of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the company's vaccine have been administered in the U.S. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine.

No one who received a shot from the Vernon mobile clinic has shown signs of blood clots, town administrator and emergency management director Michael Purcaro said.

Lt. William Meier of the Vernon Police Department, who serves as the site commander for the local clinics, said the quick switch was part of the contingency plan. HVCC staffers contacted the clients and all 100 agreed to go with Moderna, he said.

HVCC runs a regional food pantry in addition to providing social services.

"This is one of the most vulnerable populations," HVCC Chief Executive Officer David O'Rourke said. "We expect today to go over as flawlessly as the others we've had here (about 200 clients have already been vaccinated). This has been an extraordinary effort by the town of Vernon."

Purcaro said it is about being prepared. Vernon plans to offer clinics this week at construction sites and for Eversource Energy line workers as part of the town's "Get Vax To Business" campaign.

"We're pivoting to the Moderna exclusively now," he said. "It's a personal choice, but we urge people t get the vaccine. We are not cancelling any clinics, just maintaining one type of vaccine now. I urge people to contact us via the call center."

The Vernon vaccination all center number is 860-896-4568.

Vernon officials have teamed up with Priority Urgent Care of Ellington to sponsor the clinics. The clinic's director and founder, Dr. Daksh Rampal, was a caught on vacation when the news about the J&J vaccine broke Tuesday morning. He did say in a conference call with Patch that the clinics will only use what is recommended and urged tea resident not to be nervous about getting a shot.

"There have been no cases of blood clotting in Connecticut, but we also want to go with what is being supported by the FDA," Dr. Rampal said.