3 Tampa Pop-Up Clinics, FEMA Site Halt Johnson & Johnson Vaccines

TAMPA BAY, FL — Residents planning to get the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine at the Federal Emergency Management Agency vaccination site at the Tampa Greyhound Race Track will have to settle for a two-dose vaccine.

FEMA said it has stopped administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.

Federal officials recommended pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after it was linked to the formation of unusual blood clots in women. According to the CDC, six women between 18 and 48 years old experienced blood clots and low platelet counts six to 13 days after receiving the vaccine. One woman died and a second is in critical condition.

In addition to stopping use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the FEMA site in Tampa, three Tampa pop-up clinics that were offering the vaccine have been postponed. The clinics were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at the New Tampa Community Center, Lykes Gaslight Square Park and Loretta Ingraham Park.

CVS, Walgreens and Publix said they are also halting use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Florida Gov. DeSantis said during a news conference Tuesday in Manatee County that the state will following the recommendation of the CDC and FDA.

"But I think what they’re doing is out of an abundance of caution," he said. "I don’t think people should be worried who have already had it who haven’t had any effects. There’s no question that it’s saved lives already."

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Wednesday to discuss the cases. The FDA is also investigating the blood clots and low platelet counts.

“Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, in a joint medial call Tuesday with Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting FDA commissioner.

“Hopefully they’ll do this quickly, get the information and then, hopefully, we can move forward," DeSantis said.

Clinics in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties offering the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will not be impacted.

The FDA approved an emergency use authorization for the Johnson & Johnson vaccines in February. It is the only vaccine that requires just one dose.

The CDC said about 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States, most with mild or no side effects. The pharmaceutical company has delivered another nine million doses to states to be administered.

The Florida Department of Health reported that 473,416 people have received the J&J vaccine in Florida as of Monday.

People who have already received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and are experiencing severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the shot should contact their health provider.

See related stories:

• Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Available At Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics
• Feds Pause Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine In FL, Across US
• Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause: 6 Things To Know