The Department of Health and Human Services has communicated to local health departments, health care providers and pharmacies across the state to pause administering the Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, following Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration recommendations.

On Thursday, April 8, DHHS, the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska Medicine consulted with CDC and FDA about a rare and severe type of blood clot diagnosed in a Nebraska resident.

As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48 and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous and alternative treatments need to be given.

CDC will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Wednesday, April 14, to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases.

For additional information, visit the link below for the official FDA and CDC joint release: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/joint-cdc-and-fda-statement-johnson-johnson-covid-19-vaccine.

North Central District Health Department encourages residents to continue to watch local media for further updates on resuming administration of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

At this time, there are no recommendations to pause the use of Pifzer or Moderna vaccines. These two vaccines should be provided in place of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine until further notice.