DENVER (KKTV) – Due to a national shortage of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine and potential side effects, Centura Health announced Friday night that more than 20,000 people who registered to get the J&J shot are scheduled this weekend will be getting the Pfizer recording at different drive-thru clinics instead.
The announcement came Friday night and affects people with an appointment through one of three drive-up mass vaccination sites at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, and the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
11 News spoke with Centura Health CEO Peter Banko shortly after the announcement. The decision came after a day of discussion between the Centura Health clinical team and representatives with the state of Colorado. Banko said Wednesday’s incident in which 11 people had negative reactions to the J&J vaccine at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park played a role in their decision.
The J&J doses remain in storage refrigerators as Centura Health uses them in outpatient care facilities, including physician clinics in Colorado.
“No doses are lost,” explained Banko. “We’ll administer it, just in different places.”
Banko added that anyone who still wants the J&J vaccine can work with Centura Health to get it off-site from one of the mass vaccination pick-up locations.
“Let me clarify that there is a difference between sitting in the front of your car or sitting on an examination table in a doctor’s office,” added Banko. “Moderna, Pfizer, J&J are safe and effective, we make just a few minor adjustments to ensure safety.”
Banko says Centura Health is waiting for more guidance from the CDC and the FDA to decide whether to bring J&J back as an option for the mass vaccination sites.
To make an appointment through Centura Health at one of the three locations, click here.
The full release of Centura Health shipped on 4/9/21 is below:
Centura Health will only be offering the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at three drive-up mass vaccination events starting Saturday, April 10. The three are Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine remains both extremely safe and effective. We made this decision due to the national shortage of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine and the side effects to the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine during our community vaccination event at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday April 7 (side effects were 0 , 62% of those vaccinated on April 7). We will continue to administer the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine in our outpatient and physician clinic.
“During the pandemic, we have remained flexible and agile, always ready to adapt our processes and systems, rooted in our commitment to Safety First, People Always,” said Peter D. Banko, President and CEO of Centura Health. “I applaud and support our incredible caregivers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for their courage to see something, say something and stop the line.”
The 24,400 patients currently scheduled to receive the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at one of our three Vaccines for All drive-up mass vaccination clinics between April 10-14 will have the same appointment time, date and same location and receive the Pfizer. dose one vaccine. This change is automatically made for all registered persons and appointments are considered confirmed. Pfizer Dose Two Appointments are automatically scheduled on the corresponding Day 21, at the same time and location as your first dose appointment. Affected patients will receive an email, text message, or both based on the information they provided during registration. If registered patients cannot attend or need to reschedule their appointment, they can call 855-882-8065. The telephone line is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“At this point, our priority is to take care of our neighbors who are currently scheduled to ensure they can be vaccinated,” said Shauna Gulley, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. We appreciate your patience in making this transition. We remain committed to vaccinating all residents of Colorado and western Kansas as soon as possible. “
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