Health Department

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10777 Main Street
Fairfax, VA 22030
Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Health

Department Resources

Continued Pause Recommended in Use of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine

HEALTH ADVISORY

Summary

Per the CDC HAN on April 13, 2021 (Cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia after Receipt of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine) and the emergency meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the CDC and FDA are recommending a pause in the use of the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine out of an abundance of caution. The FDA will continue to review the data and will provide a recommendation in the future regarding the continued use of the J&J vaccine.

See the full text of the CDC HAN: Cases of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia after Receipt of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. 

SUGGESTED ACTIONS  

  • Pause the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine until FDA and CDC further review these CVST cases in the context of thrombocytopenia and assess their potential significance.
  • Maintain a high index of suspicion for symptoms that might represent serious thrombotic events or thrombocytopenia in patients who have recently received the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, including severe headache, backache, new neurologic symptoms, severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, petechiae (tiny red spots on the skin), or new or easy bruising. Obtain platelet counts and screen for evidence of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.
  • In patients with a thrombotic event and thrombocytopenia after the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, evaluate initially with a screening PF4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay as would be performed for autoimmune HIT. Consultation with a hematologist is strongly recommended.
  • Do not treat patients with thrombotic events and thrombocytopenia following receipt of J&J COVID-19 vaccine with heparin, unless HIT testing is negative.
  • If HIT testing is positive or unable to be performed in patient with thrombotic events and thrombocytopenia following receipt of J&J COVID-19 vaccine, non-heparin anticoagulants and high-dose intravenous immune globulin should be strongly considered.
  • Report adverse events to VAERS, including serious and life-threatening adverse events and deaths in patients following receipt of COVID-19 vaccines as required under the Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines.
     
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