Thousands received J&J COVID vaccine in Tri-Cities — what to do if you got it or plan to

An estimated 7,000 people in the Tri-Cities area have been vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that has been linked to rare but serious side effects, according to the Benton Franklin Health District.

Both Tri-Cities area pharmacies and also clinics have given some of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine since it was approved for use in the United States in late February.

In addition, 500 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine doses were scheduled to be given at the Tri-Cities fairgrounds this week, the first time that brand had been available there.

People scheduled for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at the Benton County Fairgrounds will receive an email and should reschedule an appointment to receive the Pfizer vaccine, which also is being given at the fairgrounds this week.

Those who have appointments for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Tri-Cities Community Health this week will be offered the Moderna vaccine.

People who have received the vaccine in the last three weeks should contact their doctor if they develop a severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath.

The risk of complications for those who got the vaccine more than a month ago appears to be very low, according to the Washington state Department of Health.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has not been as easy to find locally as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, but has been popular because it requires a single shot.

The other two approved COVID-19 vaccines require a second “booster” shot several weeks after the first to be fully effective.

On Tuesday the Washington state Department of Health said the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would be stopped at least temporarily in Washington state. In Washington state about 149,000 doses have been administered.

The state said the pause was being taken out of an abundance of caution after six U.S. patients, none known to live in Washington state, developed serious blood clots combined with low platelet counts. One woman died.

All six were women between the ages of 18 and 48 and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination.

“Right now these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” the Centers of Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration said in a joint statement.

The FDA said that a probable cause is a rare immune response generated by the individual after receiving the vaccine.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is reviewing the six known cases.

The state Department of Health will decide whether or not to resume use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in Washington state based on CDC and FDA guidance.

Some people who signed up for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Tri-Cities Community Health may choose to wait to see whether it is cleared for use again, said Jim Davis, CEO of the community health clinics.

Tri-Cities COVID vaccine

Tri-Cities Community Health has given 11,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine since January, including 1,935 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It has prepared information in English and Spanish for its patients who were concerned.

Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last two weeks and have leg pain or swelling, redness in the calf area, chest pain, severe headache or shortness of breath should call their medical provider right away or go to the emergency room if symptoms are severe, patients were being told.

But if they are not experiencing symptoms they do not need to contact their health care provider.

About 375 farm workers signed up to be vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at Douglas Fruits in Pasco last week, with the vaccine supplied by Safeway.

David Green, director of pharmacy operations for the Safeway/Albertsons Seattle Division, released a statement Tuesday saying the blood clots associated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were extremely rare.

The six women with blood clots were among 6.8 million people receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the United States, he said.

He encouraged anyone receiving a COVID-19 vaccine to register with the CDC’s V-Safe program at vsafe.cdc.gov to report any side effects.

About 54,000 people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in Benton and Franklin counties.

A total of about 134,000 shots have been given, including doses of Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna.

To find open appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine, go to vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov.

Places with vaccine appointments available within 50 miles — including the Tri-Cities fairgrounds, clinics and pharmacies — will be shown when you enter your zip code.

Starting Thursday, April 15, anyone in Washington state age 16 or older is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

This story was originally published April 13, 2021 at 10:54 AM.