PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia has opened up COVID-19 vaccines to every person age 16 and over, and now health officials are trying hard to fill all appointments.
But they're concerned the pause of the Johnson & Johnson one-dose shot will only add to vaccine hesitancy.
With the demand for COVID-19 vaccine appointments not always matching the current supply, Philadelphia decided Friday to immediately open eligibility for vaccine doses to anyone 16 and older.
However, Philadelphia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley reported not all vaccine slots were being used. Health officials believe vaccine hesitancy could be the cause.
"This vaccine is something that can really help us with a virus that's killing at a high rate right now that is spreading still," said Dr. Amesh Adalja from the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Despite multiple cases of blood clots in people who received the J&J vaccine, Adalja said it's still worth the risk.
"All the tools that we have are going to look favorably when you do risk-benefit analysis, because these are very, very safe vaccines despite the small number of cases that might be linked to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine."
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Adalja believes the Johnson & Johnson shot will roll out again, but is concerned people will be wary of it.
"The Johnson & Johnson vaccine, in the minds of the public - it's going to be relegated to a second-tier. People think it's going to be a second-best vaccine."
He said restoring the public's faith in it will take time.
"This is something that is going to be very challenging to overcome," he said. "We're going to have to be very proactive, we're going to have to show the data. We're going to have to be very transparent and talk about the rarity of this side effect."
City health officials have continued to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, especially in high-risk areas. Local officials sponsored a block party in West Philadelphia Saturday that doubles as a vaccine clinic. And doses are still administered at FEMA sites in Center City and North Philadelphia.
As of Saturday, more than 438,000 people have been fully vaccinated in Philadelphia.
Delaware has also opened vaccine eligibility to all and New Jersey plans to do the same Monday.