Updated April 13, 2021 at 4:10 p.m.

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has asked all of the state’s vaccine providers to immediately stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to an announcement released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this morning. This pause is being implemented out of an abundance of caution so that the CDC and the FDA can review six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot that has occurred in six women, ages 18–48, following vaccination with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

It is important to note that, at this time, no causal link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and these reports has been confirmed. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization practices will conduct a more detailed review of the cases Wednesday, April 14. OHA awaits the results of their deliberations, including about whether the illnesses have been caused by the vaccine and any other recommendations the committee might have going forward.

We continue to believe the existing COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. 

Oregon Health Authority has published a document to address questions related to the April 13 pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which can be found here: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le3685.pdf.

Additionally, Dr. Paul Cieslak, Senior Health Adviser and Medical Director for Acute and Communicable Disease and Immunizations for the Oregon Health Authority, explained the reason for Oregon’s pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccines in a short video segment. You can watch that clip below.

OHA facilitated a media availability on April 13 to allow Dr. Cieslak to answer questions from the media about the pause on Johnson & Johnson as well. A full recording of that session can be found below.

This article will continue to be updated as more details are released. You can read OHA’s official press release here.