Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Getting shots in the arms of Bucks Countians continued last week and this week.
Most residents inoculated in the county have been receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, but 20,000 doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine were delivered from the state last week.
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Tuesday’s surprising news from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration calling for “pause” in use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an “abundance of caution” caused the Bucks County Health Department to close their Warwick Township vaccination clinic for Tuesday.
The Warwick Township vaccination clinic, which is at a former grocery store off York Road, was capable of injecting 2,000 doses per day.
County Spokesperson Larry King said the county-supported vaccination clinics in Bensalem Township, Bristol Township, Newtown Township, and outside of Perkasie will keep running, as they use the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
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Following the federal announcement, the Pennsylvania Department of Health told vaccine providers Tuesday morning to halt use of the Johnson & Johnson shot until further information is released.
Federal authorities said their recommendation to halt giving the single-dose vaccine came as they were looking into reports of what seems to be extremely rare but potentially dangerous blood clots that could be linked to the vaccine.
Credit: Mark Getman
“As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine have been administered in the U.S. CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine. In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said in a joint statement.
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“Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. COVID-19 vaccine safety is a top priority for the federal government, and we take all reports of health problems following COVID-19 vaccination very seriously. People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider,” they said.
Health officials and experts have assured the public the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are effective and safe. The reports of problems with a handful of people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are extremely limited and being investigated.
The announcement of the pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine came as the state and federal government expand eligibility to more people.
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Starting Tuesday, all Pennsylvanians age 16 and older were able to schedule an appointment for inoculation.
Those who are looking to register and make an appointment can do so at the county’s vaccination portal.
Bucks County health officials said residents who were preregistered for vaccine appointments have been sent invitations to schedule.
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“Everybody over 16 is now eligible for vaccine. That is a very good thing, and will put a major dent in cases,” said Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Health Department. “We look forward to vaccinating as many people as we possibly can.”
Bucks County vaccine providers had partly inoculated 89,509 people and fully vaccinated 117,643 people.
“These totals are equivalent to 41 percent of the county’s adult population,” county officials said.
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In recent weeks, Bucks County has seen more COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered to the health department.
Statewide, federal data showed that about 39 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians have received at least one dose of the vaccines.
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