City is following state and federal recommendations as rare clotting issues are investigated
Berkeley, California (Tuesday, April 13, 2021) - The City of Berkeley is pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and is following state and federal recommendations.
This suspension will not have a significant impact on the City's current vaccination efforts, as Pfizer and Moderna vaccines comprise the overwhelming majority of scheduled vaccinations and the City's overall vaccine supply. A small walk-up clinic using Johnson & Johnson had been scheduled for later this week, and will continue as planned using Pfizer vaccine.
Community members who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last few weeks should monitor their symptoms and seek medical attention immediately if they experience any of the following:
- severe headaches
- abdominal pain
- leg pain
- shortness of breath
These side effects are extremely rare. Community members who have concerns but are not experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider for further guidance.
It is important to remember that all three COVID-19 vaccines - including Johnson & Johnson - have been shown to be overwhelmingly safe and effective at preventing COVID-19, which has killed 41 Berkeley residents, 59,000 Californians, and more than 560,000 people nationwide. This pause is out of an abundance of caution as data is reviewed about the reported the 6 U.S. cases of blood clotting out of 6.8 million vaccines administered.
