The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Officials say vaccine clinics remain on track
TORRINGTON — Local health officials said Tuesday they are prepared to continue their clinics using Pfizer and Moderna’s shots following the news that use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine was paused.
In Torrington, officials say they have only been dispensing Moderna and “will not have the need to cancel any vaccination clinics due to the concerns with the Johnson and Johnson vaccine,” according to Torrington Area Health District Deputy Director of Health Tom Stansfield.
“The Torrington Area Health District has been on the forefront of the vaccination efforts since late December of 2020,” said Stansfield. “We will have administered 10,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine by
the end of April 2021.
“We will continue to monitor the alerts and guidance from the CDC and the Connecticut Department of Public Health and update the public through our website as new information becomes available,” Stansfield said.
Hartford HealthCare, which operates Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, also issued a statement Tuesday morning, saying it was stopping all vaccines involving Johnson & Johnson.
“Hartford HealthCare is not currently offering J&J vaccines at any clinics at this time and will only be offering Moderna and Pfizer,” according to the statement.
According to Hartford HealthCare, as of April 13, it has provided 18,857 vaccinations using Johnson & Johnson; 236,370 doses — combined first and second — of Pfizer, and 75,971 combined doses of Moderna.
“We have adjusted our vaccine distribution in every one of our vaccines clinics to provide only Pfizer and Moderna products,” said Dr. James Cardon, Hartford HealthCare’s Chief Clinical Integration Officer. “As always, safety is our first priority and we immediately followed the guidance of federal health agencies while the health concerns with J&J are being thoroughly investigated.”
Torrington resident Ginger Balch, who owns In Sheep’s Clothing on Water Street, received the COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna. “I am OK,” she said.
Barkhamsted First Selectman Don Stein said he and his wife got the Pfizer shot. “There were no issues,” he said.
Steve Williams, Winsted’s Director of Emergency Management, said Tuesday that plans to offer vaccines through a mobile clinic with Griffin Hospital and FEMA, will continue.
Winchester/Winsted is holding two clinics this week: one on April 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the former Bank of America building, 44 Elm St.; and April 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Faith Bible Church, 350 Main St., next to the Gilson Theater.
No Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been used, Williams said.
“Winchester has not run its own clinics and has relied on the Torrington Area Health district and CVS Pharmacy,” he said. “Hartford HealthCare (had a) mobile clinic at the senior center back in March. All of these clinics have been using either the Maderna or Pfizer vaccines.
“The two clinics this week are still scheduled to occur ... Instead of using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine they will be administering the Pfizer vaccine,” Williams said. “Plans are being made to return to town a a later date to administer the second dose to those who receive the first dose this week.”
Williams has received a few calls from residents, asking if those clinics are being canceled, “which they are not,” he said.
New Milford physician assistant Kateland Kelly said she advised people not to worry.
“It’s actually really good news that the FDA and the CDC have come out with this statement. Anytime we have a new vaccine or a new medication, frankly, this is part of the evaluation process,” said Kelly, who is administering vaccines at the John Pettibone Community Center clinic in town. She administered the J&J vaccine last Saturday.
In light of the news, Kelly said it’s important to remember it’s six cases out of 6.8 million doses of the vaccine that have already been given out.
“We’re not necessarily stopping or selling anything out,” she said. “We’re trying to figure out why did these six individuals have a clotting issue at all? The women were 18 to 48 years old, so relatively young and healthy, to the general knowledge of the public.”
Kent resident Jennifer Willcox, who received J&J April 1, said while the news is “worrisome,” she is still glad she got that vaccine, over the other options.
Prior to receiving J&J, she had consulted with family members who are doctors, who specifically told her to get J&J over Moderna or Pfizer because “it's a more proven technology. I was worried about blood clots, but they told me this was very rare. Everything has a risk, and the shot is still safer than driving in a car,” she said, adding she’s hoping she doesn’t get a blood clot.
She added if she had to do it over again, knowing what she knows now, she would still choose J&J.
“I feel good knowing that it will protect me and my family. My husband also got it and he had a headache and fatigue and I was in bed for a day. But now I can go get a haircut, go to the gym, get on a plane (all masked of course) go shopping, without fear. We still take precautions but this just adds another layer of comfort.”