Putnam To Substitute Moderna For J&J Vaccine Appointments Tuesday

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The Putnam Department of Health announced that all Johnson & Johnson vaccination appointments scheduled for Tuesday have been canceled, but anyone registered for a J&J vaccine will be offered Moderna instead.

The pause comes from federal health authorities.

"Today the CDC and FDA issued a statement recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution," New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in an announcement Tuesday morning. "New York State will follow the CDC and FDA recommendation and pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine statewide immediately today while these health and safety agencies evaluate next steps."

Any Putnam resident registered for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine Tuesday in Garrison can register on-site for the Moderna vaccine or schedule their Moderna appointment online.

Zucker said all appointments for Johnson & Johnson vaccines today at New York State mass vaccination sites will be honored, and registrants will receive the Pfizer vaccine instead.

He said, "As the CDC and FDA have said, any adverse events related to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine 'appear to be extremely rare' and 'People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.'"

Putnam health officials said the CDC and FDA will review data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. With nearly 7 million doses of this vaccine administered, there have been just six reported cases of this event—all among women ages 18-48 and occurring 6-13 days after vaccination.

The Putnam Health Department has run over 30 clinics called PODs and has administered over 13,400 COVID-19 doses so far. The health department plans to continue to run Moderna clinics for individuals age 18+ who live, work, or attend school in New York. Click here for more information.