COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and medical experts around the state expressed their confidence in the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines despite the developments surrounding the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
What You Need To Know
- Distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine was paused
- Six women from across the country, ranging in ages 18-48, got blood clots after getting the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine
- Many mass and college vaccination sites are switching to Pfizer or Moderna vaccines
The governor also announced plans for mass vaccination sites to start using the other vaccines.
DeWine said after speaking with the Ohio Department of Health and the White House on Tuesday, he made the call to pause vaccine providers from further administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and to hold onto it until told otherwise.
“The CDC and the FDA say the pause and the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be short,” said DeWine.
After six women from across the country, ranging in ages 18-48, got blood clots after getting the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, DeWine said he was told the pause could be days or weeks, and not weeks or months. More than 264,000 Ohioans and nearly seven million Americans have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
“We know that during this pause that Ohioans should continue to be vaccinated. Several doctors have said the vaccination you want is the vaccination that you can get now. Those you can get now are Pfizer and Moderna,” DeWine said.
The governor said the majority of Ohio’s Johnson & Johnson doses were directed to Ohio’s mass vaccination clinics and colleges. Now, some sites will switch to Pfizer or Moderna and other sites will pause entirely for the week.
DeWine said while the plan was to vaccinate every college student with Johnson & Johnson, the state got a lot done.
“Some of them may now have to get this vaccination on their own and get it off campus. They could do it now or they could do it when they leave campus,” said DeWine.
There has been concern from some Ohioans and other Americans about the safety of the vaccine. Ohio Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said while it is understandable, he views Tuesday’s news as a win for the scientific community and the public as far transparency in the process.
“This should be reassuring that the scientific and medical community is really on this and watching very closely to ensure that what people are receiving is in fact safe,” said Dr. Vanderhoff.
DeWine added the ticket to a good spring and summer is people getting the vaccine, and as far as any possible spike in COVID-19 cases related to the pause, DeWine said, “it is what it is and we’ll continue to move forward.”
