NORWALK, Conn. (WCBS 880) — Connecticut is feeling the ripple effect of a mix-up at a Baltimore plant that ruined millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.
With the state expecting to lose about 90% of its Johnson & Johnson supply, officials are adjusting plans for rolling out vaccinations on college campuses.
Students were initially set to receive the Johnson & Johnson single-dose shot, but will instead get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine due to the shipment shortfall.
Connecticut Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said students will get the first dose at school and the second in their home state after the semester ends.
"We'll have second dose opportunities available for those college students later in May or June to make sure they can complete their course, so it'll be potentially a little staggered getting your first dose in one state or you second dose in another, but nonetheless we want to continue to make the option available even if we don't have J&J," Geballe said.
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Next week, Connecticut expected 20,000 Johnson & Johnson doses, that will drop to 6,000 and and then down to 2,000 the following week.
It's unclear when Connecticut will get more.
"What we've been told is that it's a little bit indefinite right now, they need to get that manufacturing plant in Baltimore certified by the FDA and they have not given us a timeline yet on when they expect to do that," Geballe said.
Despite the shortage, Geballe said there is no cause for concern.
"We still have an awful lot of vaccine coming into the state, we always anticipated the Johnson & Johnson deliveries to step down this week and beyond, but it stepped down significantly more. We still have a lot of vaccine of Modern and Pfizer coming in we'll be able to stay very busy and largely stay on track with prior estimates," Geballe said.
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Whatever Johnson & Johnson supplies come in will go to mobile clinics that serve vulnerable communities.
In New Jersey, the Johnson & Johnson allocation has been fallen by about 96%.
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