Local Communities Stop J&J Vaccine Distribution: Patch PM

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Tuesday, April 13. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Several local communities are dropping the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following state and federal guidance.
• The chief executive of Westborough-based BJ's Wholesale Club died of a heart attack while out for a run last Thursday.
• Local authorities have identified a man killed Saturday night while crossing a downtown Marlborough street.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

Framingham and Milford on Tuesday were among the first two local communities to announce they would stop distributing the Johnson and Johnson version of the coronavirus vaccine. Federal and state officials on Tuesday morning announced a pause in distributing the Janssen vaccine after six women developed rare and potentially fatal blood clots.

"This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution as the FDA and CDC review these six cases, none of which are known to be linked to Massachusetts. The FDA has reported over 6.8 million doses of J&J have been administered nationwide. Individuals who have received a J&J vaccine should contact their physician if they have concerns," Framingham said in a statement.

The city will switch to the Moderna version of the vaccine for upcoming clinics under the state's equity program.

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Tuesday's Other Top Stories

CEO's cause of death released: The chief executive of BJ's Wholesale Club died of a heart attack while out for a run last Thursday. Lee Delaney, 49, of Wellesley, was an avid runner who took up the sport in part to fight a family history of heart problems. BJ's said Friday Delaney appeared to have died of "natural causes" without offering more specifics.

Vaccine passports in MA? Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker opposes vaccine passports, but other lawmakers want to at least consider the idea. Here we try to answer some of the most common questions about vaccine passports.

Marlborough man victim in traffic collision: The 52-year-old was crossing a downtown Marlborough street Saturday night when he was hit by a truck driver, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office.

Sobriety checkpoint: State police say they will soon mount a DUI checkpoint in Worcester County. Find out more details.

Learn more about getting a COVID-19 vaccine in Massachusetts at Patch's information hub.

They Said It

"While the first round was encouraging, there is nothing known about seasonal variations in PFAS levels in surface waters nor do we know whether our individual reservoirs have varying amounts."

• Worcester Public Works Commissioner Jay Fink on recent tests showing trace amounts of potentially harmful PFAS chemicals in the city's water supply.

By The Numbers

181,034: The number of doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine that have been administered to Massachusetts residents. The state told health providers to stop using the vaccine Tuesday after reports of women developing blood clots after getting the shot.