LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a statement to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six reported recipients developed a rare disorder involving blood clots. 

What You Need To Know

  • Johnson & Johnson vaccine on hold after 6 people developed a rare and severe blood clot

  • Lexington Fayette County Health Department vaccine clinic canceled

  • LFCHD has distributed more than 20,000 doses of Moderna and less than a 1,000 of the Johnson & Johnson

  • LFCHD is working with shelters and community groups to help spread awareness of the side effects to the homeless population

Kevin Hall, spokesperson with the Lexington Fayette County Health Department says their Friday Johnson & Johnson vaccination clinic has been canceled and any details on future clinics will be shared when available.

The move does not affect anyone who is due to receive their second dose of the Moderna vaccine from the health department, Hall said.

Prior to the decision to cancel, the health department placed the clinic on hold. 

“We're still on hold for Friday now we're awaiting the results from the review of the FDA and CDC this afternoon, based on their decision. We'll make our call for Friday right now it is still on as planned, but we are not accepting new appointments,” Hall said earlier in the week.

Hall wants to remind Kentuckians that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are still safe to get. Over the last few months, the health department in Lexington has given over 20,000 doses of the Moderna and less than a thousand of the Johnson & Johnson. 

“It's worth remembering though right now, there have only been six reports of these blood clots with almost 7 million doses given, so it is very, very rare but this is part of the process for the government and the CDC and FDA to review these reactions,” Hall said. 

Homeless shelters were one of those populations that the Lexington Health Department delivered the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to. Hall says they are working with shelters to make sure anyone who may be experiencing symptoms gets the help and information they may need. 

“With Johnson and Johnson, this is an overabundance of caution as you've heard the governor say is following the process to look into the reactions and find out there's something more at stake,” Hall said.

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