The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have come out over the weekend recommending the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after a temporary order was put in place following six diagnosed rare and severe blood clots in women under 50 who got the vaccine.
Dan Nelson, Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Manager, spoke with KSRM saying that appointments are expected soon, “They (CDC) canceled the pause of the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. It is the intention here throughout the state and locally to also resume that vaccination.”
Nelson estimates that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine appointments will resume within the next week or so. As of April 13th, upcoming appointments with the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine were paused or canceled because of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviewed the six cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration issued a joint announcement earlier this month out of an abundance of caution.
When asked about the COVID-19 vaccination appointments across the Kenai Peninsula, Nelson says that they are starting to slow down, “The COVID-19 vaccinations are still steady and still happening really throughout the Peninsula and going well. We certainly are not seeing the numbers that we saw a few months back when the vaccinations were first available but still a very steady demand. We’re still encouraging folks to do their research and make a decision if they do want to get the vaccine to sign up. They are available and we are looking at statewide, they’re looking at including visitors and other things in there, but certainly before summer hits we’re definitely encouraging folks to maybe take another look at that if they’ve not already done it again to maybe reach out to their physician if they have specific questions or a pharmacist and sign up for an appointment if they’re interested.”
Nelson addressed so-called COVID fatigue by urging those who are hesitant to get vaccinated to rethink that decision before the activities of this summer are expected to begin. The CDC states that a review of all available data at this time shows that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks.
