State of Texas Resumes Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Distribution

Saturday, April 24, 2021 Texas Department of State Health Services gave the go-ahead for vaccine providers to resume the Johnson & Johnson one dose vaccine.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the state followed a day after the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA ended the 11-day pause on the vaccine after rare blood clots showed up in a few patients.

An advisory committee established by the CDC determined that the benefits of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweighed the risks and ended the pause on administering the vaccine.

“The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is an important tool in our fight against COVID-19, and the scientific review over the last 11 days has affirmed its safety and effectiveness,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, Texas State Health Services commissioner in a statement. “We know some Texans prefer the simplicity of a single-dose vaccine, and the ease of storing and handling this vaccine gives providers more flexibility. Resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will prevent hospitalizations and save lives in Texas.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been an attractive alternative for a lot of people because they can get it all done at once and not have to get a second shot a couple weeks later.

The vaccine has also been popular with providers that want to get the hard to reach population of the country vaccinated such as the homebound, the homeless, and prison inmates.

The rarity of the blood clots forming with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine helped to get the vaccine back in circulation.

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