Ohio has suspended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Here’s what happens next

CEDARVILLE — Tuesday’s temporary pause on use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine at Ohio clinics should signal that Ohioans can trust the vaccine safety measures in place, state health officials said.

The Ohio Department of Health announced it suspended use of the single-shot vaccine after national reports that six women developed rare and severe blood clotting disorders after receiving the vaccine. One of the women has died; another has been hospitalized in critical condition, according to the New York Times.

The women were aged 18 to 48 and had received their shot 6 to 13 days prior.

The six cases of clotting disorders were reported among 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines administered nationwide thus far, putting its likelihood at less than one in a million, health officials said. More than 260,000 of those doses were administered in Ohio.

“The bottom line is that these cases appear to be extremely rare,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, ODH’s chief medical officer. “The fact that the CDC and the FDA have raised concerns and pushed the pause button on the basis of these six cases should give Ohioans great confidence in not only the priority that is being placed on vaccine safety but also the reliability and transparency of the CDC’s and FDA’s safety monitoring system.

“Today’s announcement really shows that system works and it works well.”

By contrast, more than 180 million doses of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines have been administered nationwide, Vanderhoff said.

Clinics canceled

Nearly 20 state-sponsored mass vaccination clinics allocated the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — including several colleges and universities that had planned to vaccinate students before semester’s end — will continue as scheduled, instead administering doses of the Pfizer- or Moderna-produced vaccine.

However, eight upcoming clinics, including those set for the former Dillard’s department store in Boardman’s Southern Park Mall and Youngstown State University, have been canceled. Columbiana County General Health District also announced Tuesday it’s paused its use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Mahoning County Public Health has requested two-shot Moderna or Pfizer doses for next week’s clinics, agency officials said. YSU officials are also waiting to learn whether appointments can be rescheduled.

Gov. Mike DeWine said he learned from federal officials Tuesday the temporary halt is intended to give health officials time to identify any adverse effects to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and report and manage them. It’s expected to be short, lasting “days to weeks, rather than weeks to months,” he said.

Dr. Mysheika Roberts, city of Columbus health commissioner, said the Johnson & Johnson vaccines currently on-hand in the city are expected to last through May or June, with proper storage.

When asked why some but not all Ohio mass vaccination clinics were able to continue with other vaccines, DeWine said each week’s vaccine allocation is a “balancing act” between 1,400 various providers.

“We know what the [allocation] number is on Tuesday and we start figuring out where they’re going to go. It depends on what departments, for example, or providers have used that [vaccine] before,” the governor said.

The state made a “big policy decision” in diverting the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine toward mass vaccination clinics and other special uses like outreach in homeless communities, where scheduling return visits for booster shots would be challenging or impossible.

Much of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine allocations, however, are now being distributed directly to pharmacies through the federal government, DeWine said.

What happens now?

Ohioans who scheduled to receive a dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are being urged to reschedule their appointment to receive a shot of Moderna or Pfizer.

DeWine said clinics across the state are seeing “slackening demand” for the vaccine, and finding an available slot should be easy.

Roberts said patients who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, especially in the last two to three weeks, should remain vigilant for symptoms that signal something might be wrong — headache; change in vision; shortness of breath; swelling or pain in extremities; or constant nausea and vomiting that doesn’t go away — and seek medical care. Patients should tell their doctor they recently received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, she said.

“If they’re not having those symptoms, they shouldn’t worry,” Roberts said.

Other news

• According to the latest figures Tuesday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 1,043,729 confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus. There have been 20,745 confirmed or suspected cases in Mahoning County; 15,470 in Trumbull County; and 8,507 in Columbiana County.

• Statewide, the new adjusted COVID-19 death total is 18,910, including 581 in Mahoning County; 458 in Trumbull; and 225 in Columbiana. Mahoning County’s 581 reported COVID-19 deaths was eighth among Ohio’s 88 counties; Cuyahoga County had the most with 2,040.

• In nearby counties: Stark, 31,247 cases and 890 deaths; Portage, 12,249 cases and 193 deaths; and Ashtabula, 6,407 cases and 163 deaths.

• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health Tuesday, there were 1,082,062 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 25,472 deaths. There have been 8.783 confirmed or suspected cases in Mercer County and 250 deaths; 6,913 cases in Lawrence County and 198 deaths. In Mercer County, 27,070 people have been completely vaccinated; in Lawrence County, 16,280 have been completely vaccinated.

• The Youngstown City Health District will continue with coronavirus vaccine clinics next week with the Moderna vaccine: April 20 and 21 at Congregation Rodef Sholom; April 22 at the Covelli Centre. To schedule an appointment, call 330-502-4276.

• Mill Creek MetroParks has begun a phased reopening of programs, events and facility rentals in accordance with local, state and federal orders and guidelines. All outdoor recreation facilities, education programs, recreation leagues and/or events were open to the public as of Tuesday. All open-air shelters will be open for reservations on their normal seasonal schedule beginning May 1, as will visitation to the MetroParks Farm animal barns.

This story was originally published April 14, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "Ohio has suspended the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Here’s what happens next."