Putnam County Department of Health Announces Resumption of J&J Vaccinations

Now that the “pause” has been lifted, the Putnam County Department of Health (PCDOH) will be offering both the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine as well as the two-dose Moderna vaccine on Tuesday April 27th in Garrison. Individuals 18 and older who live, work, or attend school in New York are eligible. The PCDOH will also be running a clinic on Thursday, April 29th in Brewster as well. For links to sign-up and more information, visit: https://www.putnamcountyny.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/. 

Federal vaccine safety monitoring systems worked as intended and allowed for further investigation into any possible link between the one-dose (Janssen) vaccine and TTS, also known as thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome. The CDC’s independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has now deemed that the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh any known potential risks for individuals 18 and over. Most people who developed TTS, a combination of blood clots and low levels of platelets, were females ages 18 through 49 years. The CDC and FDA report that the chance of TTS remains rare. 

As the first and so far only single-dose COVID-19 vaccine to gain Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA, Janssen’s “one and done” vaccine appeals to a wide stretch of the population.  Its ease of transport and storage enables providers without deep freezer capacity to vaccinate diverse populations.  Individuals that may struggle to accommodate a two-dose series for a variety of reasons have sought out Janssen vaccinations.  

County Executive MaryEllen Odell says, “From homebound residents to college students nearing the end of their semesters, rolling up their sleeves for a single-dose has helped to keep individuals safe as well as contributed to the overall vaccination rates in the county. We are glad the processes in place to ensure vaccine safety worked and now we can keep Putnam healthy and moving in the right direction.” 

According to the NYS Vaccine Tracker, 48% of Putnam County residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Putnam is slightly ahead of the statewide average of 44%. More information about local and statewide vaccination rates can be found at:  https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-tracker

Commissioner of Health, Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD says, “The ‘pause’ on the Janssen vaccine allowed for a thorough review of the reported cases as well as a chance to field reports of additional cases. Another vital task during this brief pause was the broad education and outreach that was needed to ensure clinicians are aware of the proper management and specialized treatment required for the rare, but serious clotting event. The bottom line here is the CDC and the FDA have confirmed that this vaccine is safe and effective.” 

Fact sheets for recipients of the Janssen vaccine have been revised to include information about this rare clotting syndrome and vaccine recipients are encouraged to report side effects to the FDA/CDC Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The VAERS toll-free number is 1-800-822-7967 or to report online visit: https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.htmlV-safe is also a new voluntary smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to check in with people who have been vaccinated to identify potential side effects after COVID-19 vaccination. For more information on how to sign up, visit: www.cdc.gov/vsafe.

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Submitted by Brewster, NY

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