Dutchess County To Resume J&J Vaccines

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Dutchess County medical officials said vaccinations using Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccines will resume.

Dr. Anil Vaidian, commissioner of behavioral & community health, said the decision follows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recommendation after a thorough safety review.

"This one-dose vaccine is an important option in our efforts to vaccinate and protect our community against COVID-19," he said.

The county will resume use of the J&J vaccine this week, a spokeswoman said, at various "Community Pop-Up Clinics."

Medical experts said the FDA's review of available data shows the known and potential benefits of the J&J vaccine outweigh the rare adverse risks.

The CDC and FDA said women younger than 50 years old should be aware of the very rare risk of an adverse event called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which involves blood clots with low platelets occurring at a rate of about seven per 1 million vaccinated women between 18 and 49 years old.

There are other coronavirus vaccine options are available for which the risk has not been seen, health officials said.

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