Commerce City, Colo. – A site that distributed Johnson & Johnson vaccines in Colorado closed on Wednesday after some people experienced mild reactions.
Paul Doucett said he was looking forward to getting his vaccine, but was turned down before he got the chance.
“We got there around 1:30, early, and then we had about five cars away from the next in line to take the picture, and they stopped it,” he said.
Doucett saw two ambulances and said something was wrong.
“One came in while you came in. And there was already one there, ”he said.
The organizer, Centura Health, said it had made the call to close after seeing multiple side effects.
In a statement, spokesman Lindsay Radford said, “We followed our protocols and made the decision, in conjunction with the state, to suspend operations for the remainder of the day.”
Centura Health said only 11 patients, or 0.62 percent of those who received the vaccine on Wednesday, experienced the mild reactions. Most were checked at the vaccination site, but two people were transported to a hospital “as a precaution,” officials said.
“At least an hour and a half went by for them to come back and say, we’re just not comfortable with side effects, so we’re going to reschedule you guys,” said Doucett, disappointed but concerned.
“I’m a Marine, I’m not really worried about taking an injection, and if Dr. Fauci says take the picture, I’ll take the picture,” he said.
Doucett’s wife had already received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine at a different location earlier in the day, and he said she was “ doing great. ”
Doucett said he still trusts and wants the recording.
‘Yes. This won’t put me off at all, ”he said.
According to a Facebook post, 1,700 patients received their photos on the site Wednesday before it closed, and the 640 rejected will be automatically moved to Sunday, April 11.