In accordance with the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), El Centro de Corazón has suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen ) vaccine until further notice. Individuals who were scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on April 15, 2021, have been contacted by one of our team members to discuss alternate appointment options.

What occurred?

Out of an abundance of caution, on Monday, April 12, 2021, the CDC and FDA paused the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine while they investigate data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) 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 receiving the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine. While these adverse events are extremely rare, El Centro de Corazón supports the CDC and FDA’s decision(s) to pause and examine the possible links between these occurrences and the vaccine.

What should you do?

If you have already received the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine and are experiencing severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the shot, you are asked to contact your health care provider.