NJ Pharmacies To Stop Using Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

NEW JERSEY — Several New Jersey pharmacies are pausing the usage of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after blood-clot concerns.

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

At least seven pharmacies announced that they will pause the distribution of the vaccine.

Wegmans issued a statement saying: "Following the recommendations of the CDC & FDA, Wegmans has canceled all Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments. We will pause use of the J&J vaccine while the CDC & FDA further investigate the issue."

CVS said it is "immediately implementing a pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine per the recommendation from federal health agencies."

Walgreens said, "we're pausing J&J vaccines immediately and we'll have more details soon."

Stop & Shop is also following the recommendation from FDA and CDC to "temporarily pause the use of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID vaccine out of an abundance of caution. This pause will remain in effect until details of the FDA and CDC reviews are released."

ShopRite Pharmacies are canceling customer appointments where the J&J vaccine was scheduled to be administered, effective immediately.

"Customers who are scheduled to receive this vaccine will be notified by telephone of the temporary suspension. We are also working to obtain additional supplies of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine. Customers who already received the J&J vaccine should refer questions or concerns to their physician or health care provider," according to a ShopRite representative.

Walmart is also pausing the use of the J&J vaccine until the federal government completes a thorough review.

"If someone has an appointment and we have a different vaccine, they will receive the one available. If not, we will cancel their appointment and rebook for a later date once supply allows," according to Walmart.

Rite Aid also will stop using the J&J vaccine.

"Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccinations scheduled at Rite Aid for Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14 have been canceled and those customers will receive communications instructing them on how to reschedule their appointment for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. We’ll reassess administration of the J&J vaccine once the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has completed its review," according to Rite Aid.

The New Jersey Department of Health also announced it is pausing J&J vaccines as well. Read More: NJ Pause Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine

The FDA reported that, as of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of New Brunswick-based 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.

The news comes after reports of a New Jersey man who became very sick with COVID-19 weeks after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The case, however, appears to have no connection to the federal government's actions on Tuesday. Read more: Edison Man Hospitalized With COVID-19 After J&J Vaccine: Reports

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