OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma health officials announced plans Tuesday to halt distribution of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine following reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.
Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said the potential adverse reactions were extremely rare and occurred in less than one in every million recipients, but that the pause was recommended "out of an abundance of caution."
"We feel it best to pause administration of this vaccine in alignment with the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and (Food and Drug Administration) recommendation until more data on this potential adverse reaction is available," Frye said in a statement.
Gov. Kevin Stitt is among 62,000 Oklahomans who have received doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine so far. Nationally, more than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been given, the vast majority with no or mild side effects.
Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed said the state still has plenty of Moderna and Pfizer vaccine on hand to ensure any Oklahoman who wants a vaccine can get one.
"This pause will have minimal impact on Oklahoma's vaccine effort," Reed said.