Lamont: J&J vaccine hold will have minimal effects in Connecticut

The state had already cut back on J&J because of supply shortages. Last week's shipment was 40% Johnson & Johnson – this week, it was only 8%.

News 12 Staff

Apr 13, 2021, 10:22 PM

Updated 1,277 days ago

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News that U.S. officials are recommending that use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be put on hold sent shockwaves around the world – but Gov. Ned Lamont says the impact in Connecticut should be minimal.
He says that the hold will be “measured in days, not weeks.”
The state had already cut back on J&J because of supply shortages. Last week's shipment was 40% Johnson & Johnson – this week, it was only 8%.
SEARCH FOR A CURE: Statistics and State Resources
Next week, Connecticut will get even more Pfizer and Moderna doses to fill the shortfall.
According to Dr. James Cardon, chief clinical officer of Hartford HealthCare, all their vaccination sites will remain open. They were only using J&J in limited circumstances.
However, if there's a run on the other vaccines, they may have to cut back appointment slots.
"The amount of people we can vaccinate in any given week will be affected, depending on the total of the vaccine that we're administering," he says.
VACCINE APPOINTMENTS: Get appointment information
FEMA's mobile vaccination van is still taking walk-ins, but now with the Pfizer shot. Norwalk's Bowtie Cinema site switched to Moderna.
But if you have a J&J appointment, you will now have to schedule a second dose -- which may take a few days.
"Today we may not be able to schedule that second appointment every time,” says Dr. Deidre Gifford, the state’s acting public health commissioner. “The goal will be to get the second appointment scheduled at the time of the first, but today and possibly tomorrow, we're going to have to work through some of those glitches."
Those getting first doses should be able to make that second appointment at the same location.