Of the 2,300 Johnson and Johnson vaccines administered on-site Thursday, Wake County officials said a total of 18 patients responded to the vaccine. Four were transported to local hospitals and fourteen others had minor reactions. The four others are under evaluation and are expected to be released.
All reactions occurred during the 15 minute observation period after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is only one injection, unlike the two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccine.
Wake County health officials said responses to the vaccinations are “consistent with the known common side effects of receiving the vaccine.”
The most common side effects are pain in the arms, fatigue, body aches and, in some cases, mild fever.
“We know it can be alarming to hear or see people having reactions to vaccination – so we are closely monitoring those we vaccinate in case of response,” said Kim McDonald, medical director of Wake County Public Health, ” We are currently working with NCDHHS and the CDC to further evaluate the situation to ensure that everyone has confidence in the continued safety of our vaccine business. ”
An NCDHHS spokesperson said in a statement, “We are working with the Wake County Public Health team to investigate responses to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at an event at the PNC Arena today. , Wake County Health The department is currently pausing the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at this time. We have not received reports of other increased response rates from any other provider, but will continue the investigation. and have been in contact with the federal government. “
UNC Health initially told ABC11 that it would continue to administer J&J vaccines, but later said it had paused delivery of the vaccines for Thursday “out of an abundance of caution.”
“In the past two days, UNC Health has delivered more than 2,200 J&J doses to patients at our largest vaccine clinic, Chapel Hill’s Friday Center, and our Hillsborough Hospital clinic. We will work closely with our partners, including Wake County and the state of North Carolina, to share new information. The safety and health of our patients is our top priority, “said a spokesman.
From 6 p.m., Duke Health plans to continue administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Duke Health received the Janssen (J&J) vaccine from the same lot number identified at the Wake County Vaccine Clinic, but the shipment was sent directly to Duke with no intermediaries. Duke. “Minor vaccine adverse reactions are consistent with those reported by the manufacturer prior to authorization and remain within the expected rate.”
Surgeries at a Denver mass vaccination clinic closed Wednesday after 11 people who received vaccinations with the Johnson and Johnson dose also experienced “ side effects, ” reports ABC-affiliate KMGH.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment originally said patients experienced symptoms such as nausea and dizziness. Nine of the patients were treated on-site with juice and water.
But on Thursday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis said there were “no problems” with the vaccines.
“Maybe they were dehydrated or afraid of needles,” Polis said at a press conference on Thursday. Two people were taken to a hospital for observation.
Despite the hospital transport, the side effects reported by the 11 patients were “consistent with what can be expected” from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, COVID-19 incident commander Scott Bookman told CNN in a statement.
“We know it can be alarming to hear that people are being taken to hospital, and we want to assure Colorado residents that the CDC and public health are constantly monitoring all approved vaccines,” Bookman said. “Based on all we know, it remains true that the best vaccine you can get is the one you can get the fastest.”
Johnson & Johnson sent the following statement to ABC News:
“There is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of the people we serve, and we carefully review the reports of adverse events in individuals receiving our drugs and vaccines. our review of that report is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other competent health authorities. against this pandemic. We are gathering the necessary information, including from the local vaccination center, to assess these reports. “
“It is relatively common to experience side effects from any of the three vaccines available in the US – about 10% to 15% of volunteers in vaccine studies developed” quite noticeable side effects, “said Moncef Slaoui, former Chief Scientific Adviser of Operation. Warp Speed.last year.
Nausea, as the 11 patients in Colorado experience, may also experience headaches and swelling at the injection site, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Serious side effects, such as an allergic reaction, are much less common and occur about every two to five per million people, Baylor College of Medicine dean Dr. Peter Hotez, on CNN earlier this month.
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CNN contributed to this report.
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