County Follows CDC Recommendation to Resume Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
Update by Santa Barbara County Public Health Department
April 26, 2021
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department will resume administering the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine locally, at the direction of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). A thorough safety review was conducted by various health agencies including the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, an entity unique to California and other west coast states, has also concluded that the J&J vaccine is safe and effective and resuming use of the vaccine is recommended.
Earlier this month, the CDC and FDA recommended a temporary pause in use of the J&J vaccine and Santa Barbara County took part in this pause. Of the nearly 8 million doses administered of the J&J vaccine nationally, there have been about 12 cases reported of a rare and severe type of blood clot. No cases of this rare blood clot have been reported in someone who has received the J&J vaccine in Santa Barbara County. During the pause, available data was examined and extensive outreach was made to providers and clinicians to ensure they were made aware of the potential for adverse events and could properly manage and recognize these events. Clinicians now have guidance on administration of a unique treatment required 6 to 13 days after vaccination in people experiencing symptoms of adverse reaction to the vaccine. These agencies determined the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19, the vaccine known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older. Vaccine safety monitoring will continue and any new information will be thoroughly reviewed.
“We are highly encouraged that federal and state health officials have undergone their reviews and have drawn similar conclusions in the safety and efficacy of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We acknowledge that our community may still have reservations but please know that Public Health remains committed to providing transparency about the vaccines being administered and also providing different options countywide for vaccination,” shared Van Do-Reynoso, County Public Health Director. “Safety is a top priority in this effort and this pause was an example of the vaccination safety review system working as intended. These pauses are intended to provide transparency and information to our community.”
The J&J vaccine will be available in select efforts this week through the Public Health’s Mobile Vaccine Program. Participants will be given the option to select a different vaccine if they would like. Other vaccine opportunities with the J&J vaccine may also become available beginning as early as this week. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines available locally, please visit https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/ or call 2-1-1 and select option 4. The County Call Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CDC Recommends Resumed Use of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine
By edhat staff
April 23, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine after a brief pause over concern for blood clots.
On Friday, U.S. vaccine advisors urged resuming the single-dose shot, stating its benefits outweigh a rare risk of blood clots. An updated warning will be added to the label.
Federal health officials discovered 15 vaccine recipients out of nearly 8 million who received the shot developed a highly unusual kind of blood clot. All patients were women mostly under the age of 50. Three died, and seven are hospitalized.
The CDC's Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices worried that removing one of only three available COVID-19 vaccines would slow efforts to immunize the population against a virus that has claimed more than half a million lives. They also agreed that a single dose without the need for specialized freezers is valuable for those who are unable to make a second appointment.
The committee voted 10 in favor, four opposed, with one abstention. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is now recommended for persons 18 years of age and older in the U.S. population under the FDA's emergency use authorization.
The CDC advised pausing administration of the vaccine eleven days ago while health officials investigated the rare cases.
Medical clinicians will be on a call next week with the CDC to learn about the changed recommendations and symptoms and treatments for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
48 Comments
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Apr 23, 2021 05:56 PM"On Friday, U.S. vaccine advisors agreed with Europe and urged resuming the single-dose shot,..." All of Europe? I think not. EU states (through the EMA), and a few more associated countries, maybe, but not all of Europe. For example, I'm pretty sure the J & J Janssen vaccine has not been approved for, or is being used in, the UK.
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Apr 24, 2021 10:29 AMChemical, did you not recall Brexit? UK has severed itself from Europe as a political entity.
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Apr 27, 2021 02:39 PMCHEM's point is that Europe is not the same thing as the European Union (EU). Europe is a continent, EU is a political union. UK is still part of Europe, but not the EU.
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Apr 27, 2021 08:17 PMhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe_(disambiguation)
"Europe may also refer to:
• Continental Europe, the mainland of Europe excluding the islands surrounding it
• European Union, a European political supranational entity that excludes Russia and several other eastern European countries."
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Apr 28, 2021 08:18 AMFreak is an expert in one area and therefore overestimates their thinking in many others.
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Apr 23, 2021 06:45 PMJ&J vax is one and done - perfect for pop-up vax sites and outreach at construction sites, homeless shelters, farmers markets, and other events. Get'r done!
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Apr 27, 2021 08:40 PMNah, you're probably going to need a booster shot (for all of them) and then... most likely, yearly.
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Apr 26, 2021 08:10 AMThey're going to have to send the JnJ vaccine to other countries. Even though the risk of blood clotting is very low, no one is going to risk it with other options available. Probably India would be glad to have it, right?
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Apr 27, 2021 01:05 PM10 years from now on late night TV: ‘Did you or a loved one get the Covid-19 vaccine in 2021? You may be eligible for a large cash settlement...’
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Apr 27, 2021 01:25 PMNONBIDENARY - how many vaccines have resulted in class action law suits 10 years later?
Let me guess, you're one of those who are screaming about having to wear a mask or avoid certain types of gatherings, but you also adamantly refuse to get vaccinated. Am I close?
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Apr 27, 2021 02:04 PMNot even close, but keep on seeing the world through your black and white lens.
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Apr 27, 2021 02:11 PMSince the risks of blood clotting problems are higher for aspirin, that's not a very likely scenario. More likely is legal action against vaccine refusers who cause infections.
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Apr 27, 2021 02:54 PMAction is being taken against the “vaccine refusers” now. What the government can’t do, the private sector can fill in to accomplish. Want a job? Not until you show proof of vaccination. Want us to continue handling your banking for you? Show us proof of vaccination within 30 days or we close your account. You see, it’s a partnership between the government and the private sector to get people to “do the right thing.” Now, just imagine all the other good causes that could be advanced by using this new approach. For example, smoking is really bad for public health. Want to keep your job and continue to have access to banking? Monthly blood tests for nicotine start now. The possibilities are endless. By unleashing the power of the private sector, we can “motivate” people to make better choices in all aspects of their lives. This will strengthen our society and make us all safer.
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Apr 27, 2021 02:58 PMCHIP - hahaha! You really think banks will stop handling people's finances dependening on their vax status? Come on now.
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Apr 27, 2021 03:07 PMNONBIDENARY - so you've never complained about the covid restrictions/rules? Are you getting vaxxed? Yes or no?
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Apr 27, 2021 03:33 PM2:54 PM:
Yet again, flashes of sanity in your feeble attempts at irony.
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Apr 27, 2021 08:24 PMOf course I’ve complained about them when there was so science behind them or when they just straight up made no sense. And I’m officially vaccinated with the Moderna as of three weeks ago.
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Apr 27, 2021 01:10 PM2 more blood clots in just the days opened up again. Yikes!!! It's still low risk but definitely a lot of people who are going to be choosing a different vaccine.
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Apr 27, 2021 03:01 PMDon’t worry, risks are very low. The covid vaccines have been put through the same rigorous trials process as all previous vaccines. We have years and years worth of data to show how the vaccines perform over the long term and to satisfy any concerns about long term side effects. Oh wait, no, we don’t have that data. The duration of immunity is “unknown” according to the disclosures provided with the vaccines, and there is no data on long term side effects yet. Fist it was “we have to pass the bill to find out what’s in it.” Now it’s “we have to take the vaccine to find out how effective it is, how long it lasts, and what it’s long term side effects are.”
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Apr 27, 2021 04:25 PMThe risks are tiny..... Tylenol kills about 500 people a year. Maybe you cons should cancel the makers of Tylenol?
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Apr 28, 2021 10:17 AMIf believing in civil rights and the idea that people should be free to make their own choices in life makes me a “con” than so be it. Those ideals were called “liberalism” once upon a time, but I’ll stick with them however you wish to identify them.
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Apr 28, 2021 11:11 AMCHIP - deciding to act contrary to public health is not a "civil right," it's just a selfish move. No one is taking away your civil rights by asking you to help out and get vaccinated or just wear a mask.
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Apr 27, 2021 03:23 PMVery low risk JnJ vaccine, or no known risks with Moderna and Pfizer vaccines? I know which one I'm getting. 2nd shot 5/4 Moderna.
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Apr 27, 2021 03:51 PMPIT - Good luck! Everyone I know that got Moderna got pretty sick after the 2nd one. I got Pfizer and felt fine after my 2nd dose. Hope you don't get too sick!
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Apr 27, 2021 04:14 PMFriends of mine felt very tired after the second Moderna, didn’t feel good, but didn’t feel actually sick. It will be interesting to see if there is a difference in the longevity of immunity, between Pfizer and Moderna. I still have to get my second Moderna.
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Apr 27, 2021 04:16 PMJust a sign that your immune system is working!
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Apr 27, 2021 04:21 PMSac, thanks for the info. Glad I got Pfizer. Was worried about getting sick on the second one next month.
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Apr 27, 2021 03:28 PMEventually everyone will have antibodies. Your choice is pretty simple. You can either choose COVID or the vaccine. If you are unable to compare the health risks of having a COVID infection vs. the risks of the vaccine then I can't help you.
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Apr 27, 2021 04:46 PMI agree. For children, the risk of covid is so low compared to the vaccine they have not even made a vaccine available yet. For the elderly and vulnerable, the risk of the vaccine is low compared to covid and the decision should be simple. For those in between, I think it should be a personal choice. I just don’t understand the reasoning for requiring everyone to get vaccinated. If you believe the vaccine is safe and that it will protect you from covid, why are you concerned the unvaccinated might infect you with covid? Can someone explain the logic to why people who choose to get vaccinated should be afraid of getting covid from those who choose not to get vaccinated?
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Apr 27, 2021 05:15 PMIn general, I agree that it is less of a concern. Once everyone has the equal opportunity of getting fully vaccinated we need to drop all restrictions. Once that happens it becomes a personal decision and I will not feel bad for those few unvaccinated people that end up hospitalized. That said, there is still some concern in allowing for greater mutations by continuing viral spread. Also, people with compromised immune systems that may not be eligible for the vaccine and are at high risk for COVID infection. It is still in the public's best interest for everyone to get vaccinated.
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Apr 27, 2021 06:14 PMChip: Your cribbing Sen. Ron Johnson's lies about this should be embarrassing for you. The reason people need participation of all is to protect themselves and their community. If unvacinated people would just wander off and die in some place that didn't demand society's attention that would be fine but they won't do that. When they get sick they want all the costly medical intervention that we pay for. This sort of selfishness is the problem and seems to be the current ethos of the right wing.
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Apr 27, 2021 08:09 PM"Can someone explain the logic to why people who choose to get vaccinated should be afraid of getting covid from those who choose not to get vaccinated?"
The underlying logic of the question is that no one cares about anyone but themselves, and the only thing they care about in regard to themselves is whether they get Covid, and that it's an all-or-nothing proposition, rather than a varying level of risk.
Or maybe the question was dripping with ill-conceived sarcasm like most of his contributions.
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Apr 27, 2021 08:40 PM"I just don’t understand the reasoning for requiring everyone to get vaccinated. "
Dr. Fauci explained it well in his interview with Chris Hayes today. Of course there was nothing that hasn't been explained many times, and readily understood by intelligent people willing to understand, but today he laid it out with precision and detail.
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Apr 27, 2021 08:26 PMChip, I second what Bosco said. If the disease is still circulating, it will continue to mutate, and eventually a variant may affect even vaccinated persons. If a virus does not replicate, it does not mutate, so we must stop the virus. This is also a reason to help developing countries vaccinate their people. Viruses don’t stop at borders, and the sooner we stop this one from replicating and mutating, the sooner we will all be safe.
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Apr 27, 2021 09:59 PMChip - that IS the problem you "can't understand the logic." Or maybe you are capable but don't try?
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Apr 28, 2021 08:14 AMChip, I am fully vaccinated. You ask why I'm concerned abut getting infected by the unvaccinated.
I'm not.
I'm not concerned one bit.
So why do I want as many people as possible to get vaccinated--and by the way I don't think the government should "require" it, quite simply, I would like to see all businesses completely open, the economy back to full steam and our medical infrastructure to be finally relieved. Beyond that, if you choose not to get vaccinated, if other science denying, conspiracy gobbling fools choose not to get vaccinated--well, that's their choice and lucky them that the majority of people aren't idiots. They get to coast on the coat-tails of more informed people. That's cool. And if these willfully ignorant morons do get Covid, to be completely frank, I couldn't care less. In the real world there are consequences to actions.
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Apr 27, 2021 04:32 PMThose most likely to become severely ill or die are the ones not taking the vaccine.
In Michigan, more and more young people are being hospitalized with COVID-19, and teens are testing positive at the highest rate of any age group
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Apr 28, 2021 08:34 AMI've been seeing that too, but I think it just means that they are the last group that hasn't been vaccinated and are mingling so are passing it around. Not that the current strains are targeting them or anything like that.
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Apr 27, 2021 09:30 PMIf only more students had paid attention in Science class - what a difference that would have made.
On a personal note - I am an advocate of the "Darwin Principle" whereby the idiots intentionally remove themselves from the gene pool for the ultimate benefit of the survivors.
News reports that the majority of the "I ain't getting no Bill Gates 5G experimental shot " seem to be mostly Republican White Males - I say - "Oh Heck Yes!". The fewer morons in our midst then the better our chances for societal and species advancement.
After all, the Renaissance came after the Plague.
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Apr 27, 2021 09:34 PMExcept they may infect and kill innocents. No guarantee the fools will suffer.
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Apr 28, 2021 08:33 AMAnd they have already pro-created, so that would hardly make a dent in the covidiot population. But something to ponder.
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Apr 28, 2021 10:00 AMParvopup - "After all, the Renaissance came after the Plague." So very, very true!
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Apr 28, 2021 11:07 AMDon’t give up hope. They tend to run in families.
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Apr 28, 2021 03:03 PMThis renaissance is going to be more about inflation and taxation than classical learning and scientific inquiry...
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Apr 28, 2021 04:42 PM3:03 - https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/25/dems-tax-cuts-biden-484476
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Apr 28, 2021 08:35 AMParvopup states that they advocate for, prefer, want, and desire that those with whom they disagree with politically to perish/die/gone/6-feet under. How woke and progressive that is. Yes, let's hope that others perish, and then we'll be better off. All our problems are because of the "other guy." Parvopop, you are being played by your masters.
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Apr 28, 2021 09:30 AMIf the guy intent on drilling holes in the lifeboat falls overboard, maybe that’s a good thing. I’m not going to push him, but I may not risk my life trying to pull him back in.
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Apr 28, 2021 12:48 PMPointing out that foolish decisions have fatal consequences is not mean. Reality bites, right?