Clinic Canceled In Elgin After Johnson & Johnson Vaccine 'Pause'

ELGIN, IL — Local public health leaders canceled a mass vaccination clinic scheduled for Tuesday in Elgin after federal officials recommended a “pause” on administering the one-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, called for the pause after several people developed blood cots after they were vaccinated with the J&J vaccine. The adverse reactions appear to be extremely rare, with almost 7 million people receiving the J&J vaccine by Monday.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has told all vaccine providers to stop using the J&J vaccine until further notice.

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Anyone who had an appointment for Tuesday’s clinic in Elgin will be scheduled to receive a Pfizer vaccine Tuesday, April 20, officials said in a news release. Earlier appointments can be made at KaneVax.org.

Public health officials also called off a mass vaccination clinic Tuesday in Aurora due to the pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Tuesday’s clinics were the only events this week in which providers were set to administer doses of the J&J vaccine, the release states.

Kane County Board Chair Corinne Pierog encouraged residents to reschedule their appointments and “feel confident” about getting a vaccine.

“Our commitment to the safety of our residents is unwavering,” Pierog said in the release. “Even though the CDC and IDPH have placed a pause on administering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, residents should feel confident about Moderna and Pfizer and get vaccinated.”

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The Kane County Health Department is working with state and federal officials to “monitor the situation” with J&J vaccines, with a primary goal of “protecting resident safety,” said Kathy Fosser, the department’s interim executive director.

Residents can search for available vaccine appointments on KaneVax.org. Appointments can be made for mass vaccination sites in Elgin, Aurora and Batavia.