Chester County Pause On J&J Vaccine To Last To At Least April 20

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — The "pause" set in place yesterday on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will remain in place until at least April 20, the Chester County Health Department said late yesterday.

The statement comes in response to an order from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The Chester County Health Department clinic at the Brandywine YMCA in Coatesville and the evening clinic at the Government Services Center in West Chester were the only clinics administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine when the announcement to halt administration of it came yesterday.

Those sites have transitioned to administering the Moderna vaccine for today, and the Health Department has been contacting everyone who has an appointment for the vaccine at those locations, to offer the Moderna vaccine instead, the county commissioners said in a news release.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended holding back the vaccine as it investigates a "rare and severe" type of blood clot that developed in six J&J vaccine recipients — all women between 18 and 48 years old. The six reported cases were among 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccines administered in the U.S., according to the news release.

From April 14-20, the Chester County Health Department will administer the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines, and people scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine will receive the Moderna vaccine instead, Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Franklin said.

"Everyone who was scheduled to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the coming week either has been or will be offered the Moderna vaccine instead," said Franklin.

She added, "We are basing this on the decision to stop administering the J&J vaccine until April 20. Should there be an extension to that date, we will re-evaluate depending on the amount of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine we receive in the coming week."

The Chester County Health Department has administered 7,070 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and was scheduled to administer 574 doses on Tuesday, as the CDC and FDA announced a halt on giving the shot, the health department said.

All Chester County Health Department clinics remain open. They are: the Chester County Government Services Center in West Chester, Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center at West Chester University, Jennersville YMCA, Kimberton Fire Company, Brandywine YMCA in Coatesville, the Phoenixville Senior Center, the Brandywine Valley Active Aging Center in Coatesville, and the Oxford Area Senior Center.

The Chester County Health Department stated that anyone who has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develops a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of their vaccination should contact their healthcare provider.

To view the statement from the CDC and FDA, go here.

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