OMAHA, Neb. — Medical experts in Nebraska are answering questions about recommendations from CDC and FDA to pause the use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.
Infectious disease physicians with CHI Health say they want people to know that getting vaccinated is still important, and that there are still other vaccine options available.
“We have two other vaccines that work really well,” said Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, Chief of Infectious Diseases at CHI Health-Creighton. “So we really have to continue to make sure everybody knows that we have the Moderna and Pfizer and to get the vaccine when it’s our turn.”
“As you know in Nebraska, we are seeing a spike in positive cases,” Vivekanandan said. “We want to prevent another surge.”
Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services paused the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine statewide yesterday. That came after reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot occurred in women ages 18 to 48. One of those cases was in Nebraska, reported in Douglas County.
More than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. Health officials insist that the benefits of getting vaccinated still outweigh any medical risk.