Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause Has Minimal Impact In Fairfax

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — As Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine use is temporarily paused as the FDA and CDC investigate several blood clot cases in the U.S., the impact will be minimal in the Fairfax Health District.

The Fairfax County Health Department says it will not administer the J&J vaccine until further notice. However, the health department and its vaccination partners have primarily been using the Pfizer vaccine for several months. No vaccination clinics or appointments will be impacted by the J&J pause.

"Fairfax County did not receive any J&J vaccine this week, and we were not expecting any next week," the health department stated. "A small amount of J&J vaccine remaining from last week and allocated for this week will be substituted with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to avoid any cancellations at our Health Department sites."

The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.

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.

The Fairfax County Health Department says anyone who received the J&J vaccine and experience severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.

The Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County, the towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton, and cities of Falls Church and Fairfax, is accepting vaccine registrations for people eligible in phases 1a, 1b and 1c. All residents 16 and older will become eligible for the vaccine by April 18.

SEE ALSO:

• Johnson & Johnson Coronavirus Vaccine Use Paused In Virginia
• Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause: 6 Things To Know