Atlantic City Mega-Site Pauses Use Of J&J COVID-19 Vaccine

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The Atlantic City Mega-Site is pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday.

Those with appointments at the mega-site won't need to reschedule due to the pause. The mega-site will offer the Pfizer vaccine to eligible recipients until further notice, according to an AtlantiCare spokesperson.

“We are reaching out to the 205 individuals scheduled for today and tomorrow to offer them the options of getting the Pfizer vaccine, waiting to get their vaccine until we have further guidance or cancelling their appointment,” said Jennifer Tornetta in a statement.

Besides those 205 appointments scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, no other appointments required the J&J vaccine, according to Tornetta.

Since opening on January 22, the mega-site has administered more than 169,500 vaccines. The site has appointment openings through the end of April for Pfizer vaccinations.

AtlantiCare halted the J&J vaccinations in response to the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the federal Food and Drug Administration, after six six women who received them developed blood clots.

Both agencies recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.

Roughly 235,000 doses have been administered in the state, with none of those patients reporting any similar effects, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.

The state issued guidance that put a pause on all J&J vaccinations in New Jersey on Tuesday.

"All New Jersey vaccination sites have been told to cancel or put on hold appointments for the J&J vaccine until further notice. For individuals scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine, the Department will work with all vaccination sites to make arrangements for the administration of an alternative two-dose vaccine. We will work with all sites, as needed, to reschedule vaccination appointments," said Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli.

Several national chain pharmacies and stores, including Walgreens, CVS, Wegman's and Stop & Shop, also announced that they have halted vaccinations using the J&J doses until further notice.

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