Michigan Temporarily Pausing Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Based on FDA and CDC Guidance
(April 13, 2021 12:47 PM) Based on recommendations from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is asking that all Michigan providers temporarily pause the administration of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine in Michigan. This temporary recommendation is based on the identification of six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). These adverse reactions appear to be extremely rare, as more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the United States as of April 12, with nearly 200,000 of those doses administered in Michigan. Vaccine providers across the state have been instructed not to administer this vaccine at this time, while the CDC and FDA review further data and assure that clinicians are identifying and reporting any potential adverse reaction. Clinics that are scheduled to administer Johnson & Johnson vaccine will either reschedule or use a different vaccine. “More than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S., and these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. However, out of an abundance of caution, we are following recommendations from FDA and CDC and pausing the…
