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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

State halts J&J COVID vaccinations

Feds reviewing rare but serious blood clot issue

David Colburn
Posted 4/13/21

ST. PAUL- State health officials this morning (Tuesday) halted administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Minnesota today after the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug …

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State halts J&J COVID vaccinations

Feds reviewing rare but serious blood clot issue

Posted

ST. PAUL- State health officials this morning (Tuesday) halted administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Minnesota today after the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration advised a pause as they review data about an extremely rare and severe type of blood clot that has been reported in six women who received the vaccine in the United States.

The women, between the ages of 18 and 48, developed a type of blood clot known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a stroke-like illness, between six and 13 days after receiving the one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine.

Gov. Tim Walz addressed the pause in a Tuesday morning press conference.

“This is the way the system is supposed to work -- I expect this to be a short pause,” Walz said. “Your chance of dying of the virus is one in 560; your chance of dying from this vaccine are one in a million.”

State Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said that she is not aware of any cases related to the 184,000 J&J vaccinations administered in Minnesota. She recommended individuals who have received the J&J vaccine who experience severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of getting the shot should contact their health care provider.

Vaccinations using the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not affected by this pause. 

This is a developing story that will be updated online and in this week’s print edition of the Timberjay as additional information becomes available.