Philly Pausing Johnson & Johnson Vaccine; Some Clinics To Close

PHILADELPHIA — The use of Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine is being paused in Philadelphia after federal authorities reported instances of blood clotting in those who get it.

According to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the city and all partner clinics in Philadelphia are pausing the use of this vaccine until further guidance is issued.

Some clinics will be closed Tuesday and others will be switched to other types of vaccine, the health department said.

Several clinics in Philadelphia were giving out Johnson & Johnson vaccine and are no longer giving out Johnson & Johnson vaccine and may have closed or switched to another vaccine.

See the following list of changes:

Center City Vaccination Center (FEMA-supported clinic at the Pennsylvania Convention Center)
Will be open today, April 13, at noon and administer the Pfizer vaccine. The clinic will continue with the Pfizer vaccine for the foreseeable future and will maintain the current 6,000 appointments and walk-ups per day.

Esperanza Community Vaccination Center (FEMA-supported clinic at Esperanza)
Will be closed today, April 13. Beginning tomorrow, April 14, the clinic will switch to Pfizer vaccine and will maintain the current 1,000 appointments and walk-ups per day.

Health Department Community Clinics and Health Centers
Will be open with normal hours and operations, but will not use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Philadelphia Fire Department Community Clinics
Will be closed until at least Monday, April 19.

Health Department and Partner Mobile Teams
Will continue operating, but will not use Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Partner Vaccine Clinics (including Black Doctor’s COVID-19 Consortium, federally qualified health centers, independent and chain pharmacies, hospitals, etc.)
These clinics will move to Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if they are using Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If they are unable to use Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, they may close. Please call ahead if you have an appointment scheduled with them.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine due to concerns about blood clots.

"We are very concerned about this new development, and in the interest of safety, we are following the FDA’s guidance and telling all of our providers to immediately stop using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine," Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said. "I have full confidence that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine that is still available is safe and effective and strongly encourage folks to get vaccinated with those vaccines as soon as possible."

The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot after receiving the vaccine.

All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination, according to the statement.

As of Monday, more than 6.8 million doses of the single-dose vaccine have been administered in the United States, according to the FDA.

"We are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution," Dr. Peter Marks of the FDA and Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC said in a joint statement.