Today, the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended lifting the pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Federal officials recommended a pause on April 13 following six cases of a rare blood clot in combination with low platelet counts. The pause was designed to achieve two goals: first, to communicate with health providers about how to treat this extraordinarily rare combination of symptoms, and second, to look for additional potential cases.
Since that time, nine new cases have emerged, for a total of 15 - or one for every 500,000 J&J shots administered in the United States. All the cases have been among women, and 13 of the 15 have been in women between 18 and 49 years old.
Federal health officials are expected to formally recommend that states lift the pause very soon. When this occurs, New Mexico will resume distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
New Mexicans can register for vaccine and schedule their own appointments at vaccineNM.org. Vaccine is currently available to all New Mexicans 16 years and older, and it is free of charge.