COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) – The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was put on hold Wednesday afternoon after 11 patients experienced adverse side effects after receiving the injection. Centura Health originally said 18 people were affected, but later corrected that number to 11 people.
The site used the Johnson & Johnson / Janssen coronavirus vaccine.
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says the patients experienced symptoms such as nausea and dizziness. They add that there is no reason to believe that other people vaccinated in this place should be concerned.
(credit: CBS)
We are committed to providing safe community clinics and we are so grateful that the clinic today has been closely observing and helping patients with immediate side effects. We know it can be alarming to hear of people being taken to hospital, and we want to reassure Coloradans that the CDC and public health are constantly monitoring all approved vaccines closely. As far as we know, today’s side effects were in line with what can be expected, ”said Scott Bookman, COVID-19 Incident Commander. “Getting a vaccine is much safer than getting seriously ill with COVID-19. That’s why I got the vaccine and wanted my family to get it. Based on all we know, it remains true that the best vaccine you can get is the one you can get the fastest. Thank you to everyone who had to reschedule their appointments for their patience today. ”
The site is operated by Centura Health. A spokesperson said 1,777 people received the shot, and 11 experienced side effects. Centura did not say what the symptoms were, just that they were “consistent with typical responses,” medical experts said.
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“We have seen a limited number of side effects to the vaccine,” said Centura spokesman Lindsay Radford. “We followed our protocols and made the decision – in conjunction with the state – to suspend operations for the rest of the day with great caution.”
Centura says 9 people who experienced a reaction were followed on the scene and sent home, while two others were taken to hospital for further observation.
(credit: CBS)
A total of 640 patients were unable to receive their vaccine on Wednesday. Centura Health plans to reschedule these appointments by April 11 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Janssen is a single-dose COVID vaccine that was 63% effective in clinical trials. Possible side effects in the arm where the injection is given include pain, redness, and swelling. Other side effects in the body can include fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea. The CDC said side effects usually start within a day or two of getting the vaccine and should go away within a few days.
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CDPHE says that according to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, there have been 10 previous responses to community vaccination sites prior to this incident. The CDC and FDA both manage the system.