DOTHAN, Ala. – After six women developed a rare blood clotting disorder that left one dead and another in critical condition, Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued a temporary halt on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine “out of an abundance of caution” until a more thorough investigation can be performed.
Early Tuesday morning, the Federal Drug Administration asked states to temporarily pause usage after the information was reported.
“Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” the FDA said in a joint statement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously.”
All six cases occurred in women ages 18 to 48, and symptoms developed six to 13 days after the injection.
The news comes just in time as Coffee County prepared to accept a shipment of 200 doses to be given out at an Alabama National Guard clinic at the Enterprise Civic Center on Wednesday, April 14, along with the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine that was given on March 24. Coffee County EMA Director James Brown confirmed that the Johnson & Johnson vaccines will not be offered at this time.
In her statement Tuesday morning, Ivey said, “COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for Alabama. It is important to know that the adverse effects potentially stemming from the Johnson & Johnson shot have been extremely rare in the country, but out of an abundance of caution, Alabama is temporarily pausing these shots until we know more. I commend Dr. (Scott) Harris for taking this swift step in our state so that we can continue moving forward, getting shots in the arms and putting COVID-19 behind us once and for all.”