Iowa vaccine providers urged to stop giving Johnson & Johnson shots, given adverse effects

The FDA and CDC are recommending a pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine after six women developed rare blood clots. USA TODAY

Iowa COVID vaccine providers should stop giving patients the one-dose Johnson & Johnson formula while federal officials study “extremely rare” adverse effects possibly related to it, the Iowa Department of Public Health announced Tuesday morning.

“The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has advised that all Iowa vaccine providers pause administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine until more details are confirmed,” the health department’s statement said.

The state’s announcement came hours after officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urged vaccine administrators to halt its use. The drug is associated with six instances of women between the ages of 18 and 48 developing a severe type of blood clot six to 13 days after their vaccinations.

Federal officials said in a statement they will review the cases this week.

“Until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the CDC and Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a joint statement. “This is important, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can plan for proper recognition and management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.”

More than 6.8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered nationwide. In Iowa, more than 78,500 Iowans have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health website. Those Iowans include Gov. Kim Reynolds, who received the vaccine during her televised press conference more than a month ago.

More: As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, Gov. Kim Reynolds receives hers in front of cameras

Iowa health officials were deploying the vaccine to job sites in the food, agricultural, distribution and manufacturing sectors. The J & J vaccine requires just one dose to reach full efficacy, versus the two-doses required for the Moderna and Pfizer formulas, making it ideal for targeted deployment, officials said.

“You’re in, you’re out, you’re done,” Iowa Department of Public Health interim Director Kelly Garcia previously said. “You don’t have to come back again, which is logistically hard.”

This story is developing and will be updated.

Nick Coltrain is a politics and data reporter for the Register. Reach him at ncoltrain@registermedia.com or at 515-284-8361.

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