U.S. officials announced Tuesday morning a recommended pause of the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, the nation’s third vaccine against the virus, after six recipients developed a rare reaction.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement Tuesday recommending the country to pause all use of Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines “out of an abundance of caution” after six recipients developed an extremely rare blood clot disorder.
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The FDA said as of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S. so far, so that means the percentage of people who have developed problems from it is only 0.00008% of recipients.
The other two major COVID vaccines in the U.S. -- Pfizer and Moderna -- have not been linked to any such problems.
Metro Detroit sites planning to administer the J&J vaccine are changing their plans in order to comply with the pause recommendation. We’ll keep a running list of all the changes we learn about below.
Detroit Neighborhood Vaccine Sites
Detroiters who have vaccination appointments at neighborhood vaccination sites -- including at the eight new sites open this week -- should keep their appointment. The city will administer first doses of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the single-shot J&J vaccine.
Ingham County vaccinations
Ingham County will continue administering COVID-19 vaccines as scheduled amid the J&J vaccine pause.
Officials say that the county has paused all use of the J&J vaccine and will administer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at all schedule appointments instead.
“We await further guidance from the CDC and the FDA while they investigate reports of blood clots following receipt of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” the county health department said in a statement Tuesday. “Adverse events are extremely rare, but vaccine safety is our highest priority.”
Livonia vaccinations (April 14 and April 16)
The city of Livonia planned to administer J&J vaccines during appointments on Wednesday, April 14 and Friday, April 16. The city will pause its use of the J&J vaccine to follow guidelines.
Instead, the city will administer first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and not the single-dose J&J vaccine, to individuals with vaccination appointments on Wednesday, April 14.
“Second-dose appointments are automatically scheduled for the same time three weeks after an individual’s first-dose appointment. Those with first-dose appointments on April 14 will return to the Livonia Senior Center for their second-dose appointment on May 5,” city officials said in a press release Tuesday.
All vaccination appointments scheduled for Friday, April 16 in Livonia are canceled at this time. Officials say residents with canceled vaccination appointments will be contacted by email about future vaccination opportunities.
Macomb County vaccinations
Macomb County will continue providing COVID-19 vaccinations as scheduled, but will pause its use of J&J vaccines.
County executive Mark Hackel said Tuesday morning that the county will continue using Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines to fulfill all vaccination appointments.
Oakland County vaccinations
The Oakland County Health Division says they are reviewing scheduled J&J clinics to determine if they can instead offer Moderna of Pfizer vaccines at those clinics, or if the clinics need to be rescheduled altogether.
The vaccination clinic at Oakland University on April 13 is still happening as scheduled for those with appointments.
Officials announced Tuesday that 12 appointment-only COVID vaccine clinics will still operate from April 13-19 in the following communities: Holly, Novi, Pontiac, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Southfield, Waterford and West Bloomfield.
Oakland University vaccine clinic (Tuesday, April 13)
The vaccination clinic at Oakland University on Tuesday, April 13 will still take place as scheduled for individuals with appointments. Recipients will receive a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the planned single-shot J&J vaccine.
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System said it will also pause the use of the J&J vaccine at its facilities:
We are pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at our facilities out of an abundance of caution as recommended by the @CDCgov & @US_FDA. We will continue to administer the @pfizer & @moderna_tx vaccines. Vaccination remains our best hope for ending this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/kXskcrbnLS
— St. Joe's Health (@stjoes_health) April 13, 2021
Warren vaccine fair (April 15-18)
The city of Warren is canceling its COVID-19 vaccine fair scheduled for April 15-18 due to the J&J vaccine pause. The city planned to administer the J&J vaccine on those dates.
“We will resume distribution of vaccines when it’s proven beyond a doubt that it is safe to do so,” Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said Tuesday morning. “We are also planning on having another vaccine fair with the Pfizer vaccine later this month. Our previous partnership with Mclaren Health Systems and Walgreens used the Pfizer vaccine.”
Washtenaw County vaccine clinics
Several vaccination sites open in Washtenaw County this week will operate differently amid the J&J vaccine pause.
County health officials say that mass vaccine clinic open on Tuesday, April 13 at Pierce Elementary School in Chelsea will operate as scheduled. Recipients at this clinic will receive a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine instead of the one-shot J&J vaccine.
A pop-up vaccination clinic at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center scheduled for Tuesday, April 13 has been postponed. Officials have not yet shared a new date for this clinic.
On Wednesday, April 14, two scheduled clinics at Concordia University and Eastern Michigan University will be postponed.
Officials say any other changes to upcoming vaccination efforts will be announced later in the day Tuesday. For now, all vaccine scheduling has been paused while Health Department staff assess supplies and contact those who have had their appointments postponed.
Wayne County walk-up vaccinations in Taylor (April 14-17)
The Wayne County Public Health Department will be accepting COVID vaccine walk-ups for residents Wednesday, April 14, through Saturday, April 17.
The Pfizer vaccine will be available between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Wayne County Community College District Downriver Campus, located at 21000 Northline Road in Taylor.
Vaccines are free and no appointment is necessary. Walk-ups are only available to county residents age 16 and older. Residents younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive vaccination.
Residents may still schedule a vaccination appointment with the county health department by calling 866-610-3885.
For more information on vaccination locations, visit www.waynecounty.com/covid19.
More: Looking for COVID-19 vaccines in Metro Detroit: Track openings, clinics, appointments
Know of a vaccination site that has rescheduled or changed their plans due to the J&J vaccine pause? Feel free to email us any relevant information!