96% of vaccinated Wisconsinites received Pfizer or Moderna
For the Tomahawk Leader
LINCOLN COUNTY – After recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to pause the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine out of caution due to rare and severe blood clotting concerns, the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) issued a release addressing the issue.
Currently, of the more than 7 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses administered, there have been six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine.
“In these cases, a type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) was seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia),” LCHD stated in the Tuesday, April 13 release. “All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred six to 13 days after vaccination.”
The six cases account for about 0.000001% of all people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
There are no current reports of these events occurring in Lincoln County or Wisconsin, LCHD noted.
“A total of 486 Lincoln County residents have received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine,” said Lincoln County Health Officer/Director Shelley Hersil. “Our public health nurses will be following up with individuals that we vaccinated to address concerns and answer questions regarding the vaccine.”
LCHD said that those who received the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine should contact their health care provider immediately if experiencing severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, noting that the symptoms generally occurred six to 13 days after vaccination.
“In addition, the public is encouraged to sign up for V-safe, a smartphone-based tool that uses text messaging and web surveys to provide personalized health check-ins after you receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” LCHD said. “Depending on your answers, someone from the CDC may call to check on you.”
More information can be found at www.bit.ly/3uNM5zX.
“Safety monitoring systems are an important tool to assure the safety of vaccines,” LCHD noted.
LCHD said it is continuing to urge county residents to get vaccinated.
“96% of vaccine doses given in Wisconsin have been Pfizer and Moderna,” LCHD stated, noting that the department offers the Pfizer vaccine.
Vaccination appointments with LCHD can be made at www.bit.ly/3deWkra. New appointment times are posted on Wednesdays by 4:30 p.m.
LCHD said it will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.
To learn more about COVID-19, visit www.co.lincoln.wi.us/covid.