Thread by @TexasTribune

Texas paused Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations as the federal government plans to review six reports of blood clotting among 6.8 million doses nationwide.

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2/ State health officials asked Texas vaccine providers to pause their use of the J&J vaccine early Tuesday after U.S. health officials recommended that states temporarily stop distributing the vaccine “out of an abundance of caution.”

3/ The pause on the J&J vaccine came after a "rare and severe type of blood clot" was reported in six women across the nation after getting the shot.

Nearly 7 million people across the U.S. have gotten this vaccine, according to @US_FDA.

4/ About 500,000 doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in Texas, according to a statement by @TexasDSHS.

None of the six reported cases of blood clotting happened in Texas, state health officials said.

5/ The biggest impact in Texas is likely to be on larger retail pharmacies such as H-E-B and other chains, which were anticipating that about two-thirds of the supply being delivered this week would be J&J, according to Dr. David Lakey.

6/ The J&J vaccine was also the vaccine of choice for mobile vaccination efforts, like the Save Our Seniors program, which targeted seniors in their homes.

The J&J dose is more stable and more easily stored than other options.

7/ The news of the review could increase vaccine hesitancy, a problem that Texas and other states have continued to battle throughout the COVID-19 vaccination effort. bit.ly/2Q2V3dV

8/ "Whenever an issue like this occurs, it will cause some concern not only about this vaccine but other vaccines, and I think that’s part of the message — that, especially with the other vaccines, that they have been very safe and effective," Lakey said.

9/9 @CDCGov and @US_FDA recommended in a joint statement that people who have received the J&J vaccine contact a doctor if they experience severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination.

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