DHS asks vaccinators to pause giving Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

The Department of Health Services told vaccinators to stop administering Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, following a recommendation from federal health agencies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration are reviewing six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot that have been reported out of the 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson doses administered in the U.S.

DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake asked providers to hold on to vaccine until the completion of the federal review, which will determine whether there have been more cases and provide healthcare providers with treatment guidance.

“We are pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” she said in a statement. “At this time, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare.”