For People Who Have Been Vaccinated With the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 Vaccine at Another Location

On April 13, 2021 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. That action comes after a rare but serious brain blood clot combined with low levels of blood platelets was observed in six individuals, all women under 50, between 6 and 13 days after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.​

Valley Medical Center has not given any doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and is only giving Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at this time. People who received the J&J vaccine over three weeks ago are at very low risk for this complication. Severe side effects to any vaccines are extremely rare.

If you have received the J&J vaccine at another hospital or vaccination clinic within the last three weeks, please contact your provider if you develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath.