The Cook County Department of Public Health is following the guidance of the FDA and CDC and has asked all vaccination providers in suburban Cook County to pause using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. CDC and FDA are investigating 6 cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot that occurred in individuals receiving the J&J vaccine. These 6 cases were identified out of more than 6.8 million doses of J&J that have been administered in the U.S. as of April 12.
CCDPH will continue to follow FDA and CDC guidance on this issue and will wait for the agencies to complete their review before taking any other action.
Fewer than 900 doses of Johnson & Johnson were scheduled to be provided by CCDPH vaccine providers this week. CCDPH is working with those partners to reschedule some appointments and provide them with Pfizer or Moderna doses. (Note: These 900 doses are distinct from about 3,000 J&J doses that had been scheduled at CCH-run mass vaccination sites this week.)
Individuals who have questions or wish to cancel/reschedule appointments should call the specific partner/location that is scheduled to provide the vaccine.
Those who were given the J&J vaccine who are experiencing severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the shot, should contact their health care provider. We are encouraging healthcare providers seeing patients with these types of blood clots or low platelets to ask about vaccination with J&J.