El Paso won’t use J&J vaccine while CDC, FDA probe blood clots
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The City of El Paso and El Paso County have stopped administering the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine after U.S. federal agencies requested vaccine providers "pause" the use of the drug. The request comes after six people experienced rare and severe blood clots after receiving the single-dose shot. More than 6.8 million people have received the vaccine in the U.S.
“The city and county will not be using the Johnson and Johnson vaccine for now following CDC and FDA recommendation but will continue administering other approved vaccines," wrote El Paso City/County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza in a statement.
Ocaranza added the public has no reason to be alarmed, saying "it is important to emphasize that vaccines are effective and safe.”
The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed that roughly 16,000 El Paso County residents had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to date.
DSHS also joined with the federal government to recommend that all Texas providers pause any administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
The pause comes at a critical time in vaccine rollout, though it might not have as large an effect in Texas this week compared to last. The state received roughly 350,000 less doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week than expected. The setback comes as the company works to resolve production issues at a facility on the east coast.
Only five local providers received doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week in El Paso. El Paso Community College received some of those doses. EPCC confirmed it would not administer them at this time.
El Paso County Commissioner Iliana Holguin told ABC-7 that the county was expecting more doses of the Moderna vaccine to compensate for the delivery setback.
The city recommends El Pasoans track their symptoms after being vaccinated, regardless of which drug they received. They recommend using the CDC's V-Safe application to complete health check-ins.
