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%.
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.
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.