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

NORTH CAROLINA — Following guidance from federal public health regulators, North Carolina is asking vaccine providers in the state to temporarily halt administering Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen confirmed Tuesday morning.

"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 safety system in place is working as it should," she 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: Feds Pause Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine In NC, Across US

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 on Tuesday because of blood-clot concerns.

"We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution," Dr. Peter Marks of the FDA and Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said in a joint statement.

The development 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

Pharmacy chains around the country that are administering the vaccine took action Tuesday morning.

Wegmans issued a statement Tuesday morning saying: "Following the recommendations of the CDC & FDA, Wegmans has canceled all Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments. We will pause use of the J&J vaccine while the CDC & FDA further investigate the issue."

CVS said it is "immediately implementing a pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine per the recommendation from federal health agencies."

Walgreen's said, "We're pausing J&J vaccines immediately and we'll have more details soon."

SEE ALSO: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause: 6 Things To Know

As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the single-dose vaccine have been administered in the United States, according to the FDA.

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 the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Of the nearly 5.9 million doses of COVID vaccine that have been administered in the state as of Monday, 218,690 were J&J vaccines.

Information about where to find a vaccine provider in North Carolina may be found here.

How the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works
There are three vaccines currently available in the United States — Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

Both Pfizer and Moderna deliver mRNA — a genetic recipe that teaches your body how to build the spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus. If the real virus enters the body, your immune system will recognize it and know how to fight it.

Johnson & Johnson, however, uses a different technology to prime the body to fight against COVID-19. Instead of mRNA, it utilizes an adenovirus — a common cold virus that cannot replicate and make a person sick once it enters the cells.

Ultimately, the cold virus will deliver the coronavirus-fighting genetic blueprint into the cells and teach the immune system how to recognize the spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus.

Adenovirus vaccines can be refrigerated for up to three months at 36 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Clinical trials showed the J&J vaccine as being less effective against the virus compared with the vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer. The company said the vaccine has a 72 percent efficacy rate among trial participants in the U.S., but is about 85 percent effective against the most severe forms of the virus. Moderna and Pfizer tout efficacy rates at or near 95 percent.
Johnson & Johnson's vaccine is for people 18 years old and up.

Alessia Grunberger, Patch staff, contributed