Ocean Health Initiatives Pauses J&J COVID-19 Shots

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Ocean Health Initiatives is halting administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as of Tuesday, the health care center announced.

Ocean Health Initiatives, also known as OHI, is a federally qualified health center and has seven locations in Monmouth and Ocean counties. The center said it will only offer the two-dose Moderna vaccine for eligible people in the community until further notice.

OHI said it 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 reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in people who received the J&J vaccine.

"These adverse events appear to be extremely rare," OHI said, quoting a statement from the CDC and FDA.

People who received the J&J vaccine and who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider, the statement said.

Ocean Health Initiatives says it will continue to offer vaccine appointments, but the demand for shots is still very high, it said. OHI said its website, www.ohinj.org, will be updated periodically.

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