The first side-effect case from the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine has been recorded in Texas. According to Imelda Garcia, the Associate Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services the blood clotting symptoms appear to be similar to those that led to the CDC's national pause in the use of the vaccine last week.
While delivering the State's weekly vaccination update, Garcia spoke of how they found out. "We did get word late yesterday from our colleagues at the CDC that there has been a report of a similar case in Texas, through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System," said Garcia. "The patient is an adult female, who was hospitalized after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with symptoms that appear to be consistent with those that have been recorded in a few other cases."
Texas halted the administering of the J&J vaccine on April 13 after the CDC recommendation. Garcia said there could be news coming soon about the CDC's national pause. "The CDC's Advisory Committee is set to meet again tomorrow (Friday) to discuss possible recommendations, and we'll follow whatever the federal guidance when it comes."
As of Thursday morning 16.6 million Texans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccines, which breaks down to 10.4 million people who have received one dose and more than 6.8 million that are now fully vaccinated. "We're also at a couple of our milestones for our senior population," said Garcia. "About three-quarters of people 65 years and older have gotten at least one dose and 6-in-10 are now fully vaccinated."
Last week more than 1.5 million Texans received shots, but Garcia says vaccinations are beginning to slow. "It seems we're getting to the point that most people eager to get vaccinated have gotten at least their first dose, so the next phase will be about helping ensure that vaccine is more easily available to those folks who are not going to go as far out of their way."
