VACCINE: How the city’s dealing with Johnson & Johnson ‘pause’

(WSB file photo – sign at entrance to SWAC vaccination/testing site)

10:30 AM: As you might already have seen in national coverage, the FDA and CDC are recommending a pause in use of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine while investigating reports of blood clots. One WSB reader reports he had an appointment for J&J at the city-run Southwest Athletic Complex vaccination hub today but has already received notification it’ll be Pfizer instead. We checked with mayor’s office spokesperson Kelsey Nyland to see if they’re expecting to cancel any appointments here or at other city sites because of the J&J pause. Short answer: No. Longer answer; “In terms of the operational impact, we are switching from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to the Pfizer vaccine for today’s appointments at the Community Vaccination Hub in West Seattle. We have also been using a small number of Johnson & Johnson for people living in permanent supportive housing. Those appointments will switch to either Moderna or Pfizer. All other clinics have been using either Moderna or Pfizer. At this time, we don’t have any plans to cancel appointments.”

11:54 AM: The state Health Department has a statement too.- see it here.

31 Replies to "VACCINE: How the city's dealing with Johnson & Johnson 'pause'"

  • Ridiculous April 13, 2021 (12:25 pm)

    I bet more people die from delayed vaccination than the ridiculously low risk of clots that doesn’t even have a causal link to the vaccine.    

    • DH April 13, 2021 (3:37 pm)

      As a female under 55 that just got the J&J vaccine yesterday I want to say your comment is pretty rude. The low rate may seem ridiculous until it’s you or a loved one being impacted by something like this. 

      • Ridiculous April 13, 2021 (4:25 pm)

        As someone likely to have an appointment canceled over hysteria, we both have a right to an opinion.  

        • DH April 13, 2021 (4:50 pm)

          Likely or did you have an appointment cancelled? Your fictional standard vs my biological reality are different and are not equivalent. 

          • Ridiculous April 14, 2021 (7:16 am)

            Your biological reality is that you are vaccinated and I am not.   In two weeks time you get to go back to normal life while I get exhortations of patience from elected officials that have all been vaccinated for months.    99.9999% safe.    I’ll take those odds today, in an instant.   But now I can’t, and I’m tired of being patient.  

      • mitts April 13, 2021 (4:35 pm)

        Agreed. I’m in the same situation DH. While logically I understand the risk is low, I’m still having some anxiety about it.

        • DH April 13, 2021 (4:55 pm)

          Agreed. I’m not freaking out but I did sign up to early to end this. 

        • waikikigirl April 13, 2021 (7:23 pm)

          I’m scared too. My husband got the J&J 4 weeks ago and I hate hearing this news about it. I was hesitant anyways about either one of us getting the vaccine and now this! I got the Pfizer and had a very terrible reaction to the 2nd and again now this news. :( I know the affected have been woman but still can not but worry.So “Ridiculous” unless this is about someone you love or yourself you have no idea how we are feeling.

          • lowmanbeachdrive April 13, 2021 (8:34 pm)

            6 people out of 6.8 MILLION had blood clots and they have no idea if it’s related to the vaccine – if that helps with your anxiety. I know stuff like this can be scary.  Your hubby has a much better chance of being killed by lightning than developing blood clots from the J&J vaccine – IF the vaccine is even causing the clots.  I agree, this hysteria will push less vaccinations and result in more deaths, but empathize with folks that are scared.  It’s a scary time.  Be well, all.

  • i h8everything April 13, 2021 (2:07 pm)

    I just got a notification that I cancelled my appointment for thursday at lumen field, which i absolutely did not do, and i was supposed to get pfizer. I’m so angry I could cry. I have had a hellish time getting any appointments and now I’m totally screwed.

  • Trickycoolj April 13, 2021 (2:15 pm)

    One of my friends scheduled for Lumen on Thursday just got cancelled.  That doesn’t line up with what’s being said here.  They were supposedly scheduled for Pfizer too.

    • WSB April 13, 2021 (3:06 pm)

      Checking.

      • herongrrrl April 13, 2021 (4:25 pm)

        Thank you! This happened to us too, and we’ve been trying to get hold of a live person who knows something at the city or the county, no luck.  So far.  This is infuriating.

  • i h8everything April 13, 2021 (2:42 pm)

    Well I don’t know how honest that is, since the freaking City just cancelled my appointment (and making it sound like I did it, which I didn’t) for Thursday and now I’m screwed again and not able to find any freaking appointment. A***oles.

  • RobertR April 13, 2021 (4:05 pm)

    My wife and I also were scheduled for Pfizer at Lumen Field on Thursday. Got same notice today “confirming cancellation” of our appointments for both doses. Called the number from covid website for King County, busy or on hold for nearly an hour. Was finally told that the appointments we scheduled (linked from West Seattle Blog March 31st) should not have been made available to the general public, and that there were no other appointments available. This is ridiculous.

  • WSB April 13, 2021 (4:43 pm)

    Reply from the city re: the cancellations 3 commenters have mentioned: “These cancellations aren’t related to Johnson & Johnson. A City of Seattle registration link that was not intended for members of the general public was improperly posted to social media and all the appointments – which were intended for clinical and non-clinical volunteers who help operate the Community Vaccination Site at the Lumen Field Event Center – were unfortunately taken out of turn. In order to ensure we meet our commitments to volunteers, these appointments have now been canceled. The City is updating its volunteer registration approach to ensure this does not happen again.”

    • trickycoolj April 13, 2021 (5:00 pm)

      Huh. My friend signed up 2 weeks ago through covidwa.com. Seems like they should have purged “illegitimate” appointments 2 weeks ago if that was the case. Now so many people are scrambling thinking they were squared away with legitimate appointments. 

      • herongrrrl April 13, 2021 (5:18 pm)

        Right?  This is total BS. If they screwed up and set the appointments, at LEAST reschedule them. We made our appointments in good faith, we are both eligible, using a link from this blog. There was NO indication that those  appointments were somehow special and not for otherwise eligible people. I am beyond angry.  Not all of us can just take a day off to drive to another part of the state to get a vaccine!! 

    • Emcat April 13, 2021 (11:44 pm)

      I appreciate you looking into this. It’s too bad it’s garbage—I made my appointment two weeks ago on the city’s legit website and I’m not even on any social media. I was on the phone with a friend and we were both excitedly making appointments, and she got one for last Wednesday while mine was for this Thursday. No one cancelled her appointment as illegitimate.  She has her first shot. I’m just furious and I especially resent the way the customer service woman all but accused me of lying  because I couldn’t have used the city’s site, she insisted. 

  • Meeee April 13, 2021 (5:14 pm)

    Female here, received J & J shot last Tuesday.Not concerned over having received it.  Odds are higher I’ll get hit by a car trying to cross California Ave at an intersection.

    • DH April 13, 2021 (6:22 pm)

      Easy to say since you are mostly past the period were the most problems happen. If I was mostly free and clear I’d be feeling more comfortable too. 

      • LY April 13, 2021 (9:04 pm)

        Actually, if someone received the JJ vaccine last Tuesday that does not clear them. The articles said no later than three weeks could these clots develop.

  • RobertR April 13, 2021 (6:52 pm)

    Be advised that Covid-19 vaccination appointments made through the City of Seattle can be cancelled if they decide they want to give the available doses to their employees and volunteers instead. Scheduled and confirmed Pfizer at Lumen Field two weeks ago for this Thursday, this afternoon they cancelled the appointments with no reschedule. Unprofessional and unacceptable.

    • sam-c April 13, 2021 (7:18 pm)

      Do they do that with the scheduled 2nd doses also? Like the Pfizer one that is supposed to be 21 days after the first ?

  • Ws prayers April 13, 2021 (7:06 pm)

    I still get notifications about if u or loved one developed cancer related to talcum powder jnj knowingly (they literally had knowledge of their product had asbestos in it still not only kept it on market but also promoted it) and are ordered to pay millions on dollars in settlement dont know the science of how or why….fda approved any kind of anything especially a vacinne… its commen sense literally no one should be surprised by anything….anymore literally who knows the long term effects of any of these vaccines it sucks i never was an anti vaxxer until jnj was approved litetally cancelled my trust so lame 

    • Be thankful you have a choice April 13, 2021 (7:32 pm)

      WS Prayers – You can find alternatives to almost all of Johnson & Johnson products including talcum powder, COVID vaccine, BandAids, and Baby Shampoo.  Feel free to boycott the producer / company but not the science and efficacy of vaccines, please. Be thankful you have a choice and send your prayers to the less developed countries that have fewer choices or no vaccines at all!

      • Ws prayers April 13, 2021 (8:09 pm)

        Oh …i sure do…absolutely do! We do we are blessed here in the US i know this! It just was not a surprise that there is a “pause”…and im mentally prepared for any other findings about any of the vacinnes…i am hopeful we come thro this worldwide…like other plagues humans have survived…i will wear my mask wash my hands stay socially distant i cant help the argument in my head heart spirit in justification of vacinne…from a company who knowingly gave people cancer it not ok and i cant make it ok in my head i wish i could honestly come to that conclusion that just because this company knowingly had a product out harming people and the fda approved them anyways to produce a product to prevent a lethal virus could somehow…anyhow be trusted. It sucks because i do want to…its just a miss…

  • Calires April 13, 2021 (11:13 pm)

    I’m female and would be happy to take the J&J vaccine if I could get it.  I’m sure it’ll be well into July before I can get vaccinated, even though I’m over 50.  This is the first time I’ve ever been bummed about not having any health conditions.  6 in 6.8 million is statistically nothing (yeah, I know, unless you’re one of the 6), and honestly, if you’re looking for a pharmaceutical company that hasn’t been the target of a law suit, you’re not going to find it.

  • Lisa April 14, 2021 (6:49 am)

    Just found out my friend’s 23 year old son suddenly dropped dead yesterday, 2 days after getting J&J. I feel duped and like a total idiot for getting it myself last week. This vaccine rollout was too fast and there’s way to much pressure to conform and just get, despite the lack of knowledge of its affects. I’m more afraid of now dying from the vaccine than I ever was about getting the virus.

    • bolo April 21, 2021 (12:23 am)

      Wow. My sympathies for you, your friend, and the son. Did the J&J vaccine for sure cause his death? Important for me to know as I recently had the J&J vaccine and wonder if I should be worried and maybe go for a rigorous exam.

  • Lola April 14, 2021 (7:54 am)

    My husband and I both got the J & J Vaccine on Tues. 4/6/21.  We were tired for 2 days and sore arm but feel ok now.  I am not going to let it worry me.  I believe in the Science not all the hype and hoopla that the news is saying and In the end I feel confidant that it will all be ok. 

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