MCDH to pause use of J&J over concern of severe blood clots

WOODSTOCK —The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) is announcing that today’s clinic at Willow Creek Community Church, 100 S. Main Street in Crystal Lake, is cancelled after the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) issued a notice that it is requiring a pause on the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation released today.

The recommendation was issued Tuesday after six women, ages 18 to 48, developed a rare and severe type of blood clot 6 to 13 days after being vaccinated with the J&J vaccine.

While the adverse event appears to be rare, MCDH will follow IDPH’s recommendation and not administer the J&J vaccine until further notice. 

Future J&J clinics will be replaced with either Moderna or Pfizer until further guidance is received from the CDC and the IDPH.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation,” said Public Health Administrator Melissa Adamson.

“We know that there are many residents who wanted this vaccine in particular, and we will resume administering the J&J vaccine when and if it’s safe to do so.”

Anyone who received the J&J vaccine and developed severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after their vaccination should contact their health care provider.

Health care providers are asked to report adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System here.