Hutchinson discusses J&J vaccine halt

During his weekly news briefing, Gov. Asa Hutchinson expressed the urgency for those in the state to be vaccinated and addressed a pause in giving out the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

"We respect the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) decision and White House recommendation on a pause," Hutchinson said.

He added that the pause of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should not delay anyone from being vaccinated because the state has plenty of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available.

"Don't wait to get vaccinated," he said.

He feels that the pause should actually raise confidence in the vaccines.

He explained there have been six adverse reactions to the Johnson and Johnson vaccine of the 6.8 million doses that have been given. The pause is to ensure medical professionals have the information they need to treat the reaction if someone has it.

There was already a slow down in the number of Johnson & Johnson vaccines due to a issue at the production facility.

The state has 245,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 178,000 of Moderna and 63,000 of the Johnson & Johnson. Of those, 20 percent are reserved for second doses and 20 percent are reserved for planned vaccine events.

Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero is chairing the committee looking at the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

He explained there have been six cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, also known as CVST. All six have been in females ranging in age from 18 to 48 and occurred within two weeks of getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

He said it was possible for those six cases to be found among the millions of doses given because of the systems in place to detect rare reactions to vaccinations. Those systems are in place to make vaccines safer.

He believes the current pause is prudent. He encourages physicians to reach out to the Arkansas Department of Health if they have any questions.

Romero said none of the six are in Arkansas.

Those who are a month or more past when they got the vaccine are at lower risk. If someone has had the vaccine and experience intense head, chest, abdominal or leg pain, they should go to the emergency room and tell the physician they had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Romero also said the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is based on a different platform than the other two vaccines.

Hutchinson said if someone has an appointment to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the pharmacy or clinic should have one of the other two available, so that person should still get vaccinated. Planned clinics that were to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be delayed while they get one of the other vaccines, but should still happen.

Hutchinson is still confident in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as well as, the others. He feels the pause is useful.

"The fact they have been so transparent should build confidence," Hutchinson said.

He believes the pause could last days or weeks, but

not months.

He wants the state to still have access to all three vaccines.

Solomon Graves, secretary of the Department of Corrections, reported there are currently 48 inmates with COVID-19 and they were all new intakes. There are also four staff out with the virus.

The department has given employees 3,333 vaccines, 2,353 of which were through a vaccine clinic.

They have begun administering the Moderna vaccine to inmates. So far, 719 doses have been given. Based on a survey of staff, the department expects to give 7,453 doses.

All first doses will be given by April 21 and second doses by May 19.

Secretary of Education Johnny Key said there has only been one district that has required on sight learning adjustment due to the virus. There had not been a postspring break spike like expected.

He said schools were able