College student vaccination day cancelled
Dear Students,
Earlier today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended a pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine. This news comes after six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in women ranging from ages 18 to 48, with symptoms occurring within 6 to 13 days after receipt of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
After demonstrating an outstanding safety record in clinical trials, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine received emergency use authorization by the FDA. Since then, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered in the U.S. with complications being exceedingly rare. However, given these recent reports, the CDC announced it will convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on April 14 to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. The FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases.
As you know, Cayuga Health System (CHS) and the Tompkins County Health Department (TCHD) had planned to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during “College Student Vaccination Day” on Thursday, April 15. Due to the pause in use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, this event has been cancelled. We look forward to working with CHS and TCHD to reschedule College Student Vaccination Day as soon as possible.
While it is unfortunate that Thursday’s event has been cancelled, we encourage you to continue to seek vaccination through the TCHD COVID-19 Vaccine Registry or by visiting the New York state site registry. It is important to note that this pause is specific to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Of note, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not been associated with the potential complication currently being evaluated in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be made available to residents of New York state.
If you have already received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine and have any questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider. Visit the TCHD website for more information.
Sincerely,
Sharon McMullen, RN, MPH, FACHA
Assistant Vice President of Student & Campus Life for Health and Wellbeing