J&J Decision Expected Friday; Moderna, Pfizer Doses Steady In VA

VIRGINIA — A decision could come Friday from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on whether to resume use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, according to Virginia's state vaccination coordinator.

Dr. Danny Avula told reporters Monday the CDC and FDA continue to evaluate data after recommending a pause of the single-dose vaccine on April 13. Virginia paused use of the vaccine on that date as the CDC and FDA investigate six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot.

Meanwhile, Virginia's allocations of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to remain steady in the coming days. Virginia received 220,000 first doses of Pfizer and Moderna this week, an increase of 15,000.

"The production capability is kind of maxed out, so we don't expect there to be a significant increase in Moderna and Pfizer moving forward," said Avula. "We'll continue to get the total allotment we've been receiving, which is about [450,000] to 500,000 [first and second] doses of Moderna and Pfizer. And hopefully we'll have good news with Johnson & Johnson, which would increase that by probably another 100,000 doses next week."

While vaccine demand remains steady in areas like Northern Virginia, other areas of the state have seen declining demand, according to Avula.

"That probably describes the next phase of our work, is really figuring out how do we get to those places of low demand and do the hard work to increase access and to help people understand why they should still be vaccinated," said Avula.

The state has been redirecting doses from areas with declining demand to areas with continued demand, such as Northern Virginia and Charlottesville.

Gov. Ralph Northam noted during Monday's news conference that Pfizer is awaiting FDA approval for vaccine use in children ages 12 to 15, and other clinical trials are in the process for younger ages. The governor believes vaccinating children will help Virginia reach his estimated goal for herd immunity: 70 to 75 percent of the population being vaccinated.

But with Moderna and Pfizer's vaccine allocations alone, Northam believes all adults can get their first vaccine dose by the end of May. Anyone 16 and up is eligible for the vaccine in Virginia as of April 18.

As of Tuesday, 3,442,232 people have at least one vaccine dose, or 40.3 percent of Virginia's 8.5 million people. There are 2,166,158 people fully vaccinated, or 25.4 percent of the population.

For more information about finding appointments, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov.

COVID-19 data

COVID-19 cases remain generally steady with a seven-day average of 1,348 daily cases. On Tuesday, 1,236 new cases and 30 deaths were reported by the Virginia Department of Health. There have been 648,347 cases and 10,625 deaths to date.

The average of positive tests is flat at 6.1 percent as of April 16. The highest average this year had been 17.3 percent on Jan. 3. Daily testing encounters are also down from a Jan. 14 peak of 35,042 to 17,919 as of April 16.

Virginia's COVID-19 hospitalizations stood at 1,090 statewide on Tuesday. The current count includes 280 patients in intensive care units and 127 on ventilators.

Ventilator use among all hospital patients remains at 28 percent, and ICU occupancy is at 75 percent, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.

Here are the latest coronavirus data updates for our coverage area from Monday to Tuesday:

• Alexandria: 11,491 cases, 550 hospitalizations, 133 deaths; increase of 10 cases
• Arlington County: 14,861 cases, 821 hospitalizations, 249 deaths; increase of 15 cases
• Fairfax County: 74,708 cases, 3,847 hospitalizations, 1,064 deaths; increase of 98 cases, five hospitalizations and one death
• Fairfax City: 539 cases, 47 hospitalizations, 18 deaths; one case removed
• Falls Church: 415 cases, 20 hospitalizations, nine deaths; no changes
• Loudoun County: 26,795 cases, 1,002 hospitalizations, 274 deaths; increase of 59 cases and six hospitalizations
• Manassas: 4,278 cases, 169 hospitalizations, 46 deaths; increase of 17 cases
• Manassas Park: 1,184 cases, 68 hospitalizations, 12 deaths; no changes
• Prince William County: 43,957 cases, 1,586 hospitalizations, 480 deaths; increase of 67 cases, one hospitalization and two deaths
• Fredericksburg: 2,004 cases, 99 hospitalizations, 22 deaths; increase of eight cases
• Spotsylvania County: 9,449 cases, 301 hospitalizations, 113 deaths; increase of 38 cases
• Stafford County: 10,789 cases, 346 hospitalizations, 72 deaths; increase of 35 cases