Health Alert: Immediate Pause on Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Administration - internal

• Today, the CDC and FDA recommended temporarily pausing further administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of extreme caution.

• The state is advising that providers follow the CDC/FDA recommendation to temporarily pause use of Johnson & Johnson at this time.

o The recommendation comes after six people out of almost 7 million who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine experienced a very rare but severe type of blood clot after getting their shot.

o All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination.

o We are not aware of any cases occurring among Minnesotans who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

o This issue has not been identified in people who have received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.

• These incidents have been extremely rare.

o However, anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who develops severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms that develop suddenly within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider right away. For people who received the vaccine more than a month ago, development of this condition is very unlikely.

• COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority. We will share more information as it becomes available.

What are the next steps?

• The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will meet Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. The FDA will also review that analysis and investigate the cases on its own.

• Minnesotans should continue to get vaccinated with available Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and we will provide more information and updates as we learn more about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from our federal partners.

What should I do if I have an appointment scheduled for a Johnson & Johnson vaccine?

• Anyone who currently has an appointment to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should watch for a notification from the provider about canceling, postponing, or rescheduling the appointment. If your appointment is cancelled, you can look for other vaccination appointments through the Vaccine Locator map, local pharmacies, or your health care provider.

How will this announcement impact Minnesota's vaccination plans?

• We do not expect this pause to significantly slow down vaccine administration in the state.

• No State of Minnesota vaccination sites are using Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week.