OMAHA- The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is temporarily suspending the use of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine in the wake of federal officials' call for a pause. In a joint statement, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration recommended the pause 'out of an abundance of caution'. The recommendation is based in six confirmed cases in the United States, including one in Nebraska, of a rare and severe type of blood clotting condition. The cases have occurred in women between 18 and 48 with symptoms appearing six to 13 days post vaccination.
Gov. Ricketts said on Monday that he would not suspend the use of the J&J vaccine statewide even following the reports of a Douglas County resident developing those rare blood clots. However, on Tuesday the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services annouced they would be pausing the use of the vaccine statewide.
Among the 40,000 people participating in the trials of the J&J vaccine, blood clots were reported in 14 vaccinated people, or .06% of those who got the vaccine. Among those who got a placebo, 10 reported blood clots, or a rate of .05%.
Governor Ricketts also announced that the state has also now passed its 1 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccines.