J&J Pause Not Expected To Hurt Vaccine Availability In NC

NORTH CAROLINA — The pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine in North Carolina Tuesday is not expected to adversely impact overall vaccine availability in the state, according to the state's top public health official.

As of Tuesday, North Carolina had an inventory of about 85,000 first-doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccine on hand, with more supplies anticipated to arrive in the state by Wednesday, according to North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services officials.

That supply is anticipated to be sufficient for anyone who wishes to receive it, officials said.

"The safety system in place is working as it should," DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said. "If you have an appointment for Pfizer or Moderna, please go to your appointment as planned. If you have an appointment for Johnson & Johnson, your appointment will be re-scheduled."

SEE ALSO: J&J Vaccines Paused In North Carolina 'Until We Learn More': DHHS

North Carolina asked vaccine providers in the state to temporarily halt administering Johnson & Johnson vaccinations Tuesday morning following guidance from federal public health regulators.

"Our primary concern is the health and safety of all North Carolinians," Cohen said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are following the recommendations of the FDA and CDC and have paused the administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine until we learn more."

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 because of "extremely rare" blood clot concerns that emerged in several states. Out of 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered in the U.S., six have been linked to cases of severe brain blood clots reported in women between the ages of 18 and 48.

None of the six cases cited by the CDC were in North Carolina, according to DHHS.

The news comes just days after one North Carolina vaccination site temporarily halted administering the shot after 18 people had adverse reactions.

SEE ALSO: Adverse Reactions Temporarily Halt J&J Vaccinations At NC Site

In North Carolina, J&J shots represent a small portion of the more than 41 percent of adults who are partially vaccinated and 30 percent fully vaccinated, according to DHHS. Of the nearly 5.9 million doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in the state, 218,690 people had received the J&J vaccine as of Monday.

The vast majority of vaccines administered in North Carolina are Pfizer and Moderna, supplies of which have been bolstered in recent weeks by the upticks in their manufacture, Cohen said.

"We've had a pretty robust supply now for a number of weeks and will continue to see that going forward into the future," she said.

"Every state in our country is in the same boat here," Cohen added. "We're all pausing together in terms of using the Johnson & Johnson right now."