Nearly two-thirds of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines in Florida unused.

Nearly two-thirds of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines in Florida remain unused as of Wednesday, showing an apparent lack of interest or trust in the one-dose shot in the wake of an investigation into rare blood clots.

The J&J vaccine had generated substantial interest when it first arrived in Florida, but data released by Florida’s Department of Health this week shows about 62% of the state’s inventory remains unused.

On April 24, regulators recommended reinstating the vaccine’s use after an advisory group concluded the benefits of the shot outweigh the risk. However, a new Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed that 9% of unvaccinated adults said the pause made them less likely to want the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

At Lake Express Pharmacy in Belle Glade, owner Samira Ahmad sees the reluctance firsthand. She has given out only about a third of the 100 doses she received.

“I called some doctors’ offices around here and asked them to send people over, but I didn’t get a warm response,” Ahmad said. “I called one of the agencies here for farmworkers and told them to send them over. They asked me which vaccine I have, and when I told them they said they don’t want that one.”

Ahmad said some people who have made appointments for the vaccine have not shown up.

“The vaccine comes five doses in a vial and once you puncture it, it is only good for six hours,” Ahmad said. “I don’t like it but I have had waste.”

Doctors’ offices, pharmacies and health departments in Florida have 584,468 doses of Johnson & Johnson available, according to the health data through May 4. So far,

only 941 of the total 954,800 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines shipped to Florida have been reported wasted.

Although 50% of Broward County has been vaccinated, Broward Commissioner Barabara

Sharief said the Johnson & Johnson pause “did hurt us” in terms of increasing vaccine hesitancy and unused supply. “We are going to have to reassure people about the safety of vaccines.”

Sun Sentinel Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or twitter @cindykgoodman.