Update, 3:30 p.m.: The Department of Health has confirmed the Bryce Jordan Center’s COVID-19 vaccine clinic is officially on pause. Head over to our most recent blog post for the latest information.

Original Story: Governor Tom Wolf announced Tuesday that Pennsylvania will momentarily pause the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, citing growing concerns and a federal recommendation.

Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommending halting the vaccine’s use after a few patients experienced “rare and severe” blood clotting.

Pennsylvania is following the @CDCgov and @US_FDA recommendation to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

We're taking this step out of an abundance of caution until @CDCgov and @US_FDA can review the six cases of rare blood clots that have occurred.

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2021

Although more than 6.8 million Americans have received Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine, just six cases were found in women aged between 18 and 48 years old.

On Twitter, Wolf said the state’s pause shows “that the federal oversight process of vaccine safety and effectiveness is working.”

At this time, it’s unclear how Pennsylvania’s distribution pause will affect the newly launched COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. The site, which opened on Friday, April 9, administers around 600 Johnson & Johnson vaccines to patients daily.

Pennsylvania’s Emergency Management Agency, which operates the BJC’s clinic, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

About the Author