BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York will resume the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker announced in a joint statement Saturday.
"World-renowned public health experts from the federal government and our own independent state task force have reviewed the data and reaffirmed that the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can resume," Cuomo said. "The state of New York will resume administration of this vaccine at all of our state-run sites effective immediately. The vaccine is the weapon that will win the war against COVID and allow everyone to resume normalcy, and we have three proven vaccines at our disposal. I urge every New Yorker to take whichever one is available to them first. The sooner we all get vaccinated, the sooner we can put the long COVID nightmare behind us once and for all."
The CDC and FDA allowed the use of the vaccine again on Friday after some people died from extremely rare blood clots.
"The data has shown the vaccine's known benefits far outweigh the potential and extremely rare risks, but we urge anyone with questions about the COVID-19 vaccines to speak with their healthcare provider," Zucker said. "We will continue to communicate regular updates and guidance from the federal government to providers and the general public about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and all vaccines on the market."
More than half of eligible Erie County residents have obtained at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. Western New York is on par with the statewide vaccination numbers.
