Cities in North Texas are changing their vaccination plans as a result of the recommendation they pause use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Tuesday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration recommended health agencies stop using the vaccine.
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The CDC and FDA recommended the pause, saying six cases of "a rare & severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine" had been reported among 6.8 million doses administered.
"Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare," they said in a statement.
The Texas Department of State Health Services recommended providers across the state stop giving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Tuesday morning. DSHS says more than 500,000 doses of the vaccine have been given in Texas, and none of the six cases of blood clots were reported here.
"Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare and are being further evaluated to ensure vaccine safety. People who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider," DSHS wrote in a statement.
"It shows how vigilant we really are being right now, related to vaccine safety and making sure it's safe for everybody," says Dr. John Carlo, a member of the Texas Medical Association's COVID-19 task force.
Carlo says health officials are also working to determine whether there is a correlation between the blood clots and the vaccine itself or if the six people who had issues may have had a different health issue that caused the clots.
"We don't have a direct cause or reason to think why the vaccine itself is causing the clotting disorder, so we have to look at it against what would happen normally in terms of whether this is just a naturally occurring clotting disorder or, in fact, it's related to the vaccine," he says.
Carlo says people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two weeks ago are not likely to have an issue. He says those who have received the vaccine in the past six to 13 days can check with their primary care doctor if they are worried or have questions.
"This is extraordinarily rare, but what you would want to look for is anything that would typically bring you to the emergency room. We're talking about very severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain, things like that," he says.
In North Texas, the City of Dallas was planning to start in-home vaccinations Tuesday with the Visiting Nurses Association of Texas. The city said it was pausing "its in-home vaccine roll out until further notice."
The Fort Worth Fire Department had partnered with Kroger to vaccinate home bound Meals On Wheels recipients in Tarrant County with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The fire department said it was pausing that program as well.
The Arlington Fire Department said it would not administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Tuesday at the clinic operating at AT&T Stadium. The Pfizer vaccine would still be available there, though, for people due for their second dose.
The City of Garland had been planning a mass vaccination event at Homer Johnson Stadium Tuesday afternoon. Garland says that event has been canceled. People can still receive their second shot of the Moderna vaccine at the stadium Tuesday morning.
Garland is also giving the Moderna vaccine to people 60 and older without an appointment at the Garland Public Health Clinic at 206 Carver Drive. Walk-ins are allowed Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
"The State of Texas is working in tandem with the federal government and vaccine providers to temporarily pause all administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine" said Governor Greg Abbott in a statement. "While no cases of blood clots have been reported in Texas, we are taking the reports of rare adverse effects seriously and are working to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines administered in our state continue to be safe and effective. I urge Texans who do experience adverse reactions, such as severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccination, to contact their health care providers or call 2-1-1 to receive a referral for a health care provider. Vaccines are a crucial tool to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and remain the most effective way to combat the virus in our communities. I continue to encourage Texans who wish to receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to sign up."