Randolph Officials Provide Update Regarding Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine

RANDOLPH — Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Richard Donovan, Public Health Director Gerard Cody and Town Manager Brian Howard report that, effective immediately, vaccination clinics in the Town of Randolph will stop administering the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine following the direction of the Massachusetts Department of Public Heath.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that the federal government has called for a pause on the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Federal officials are reviewing six reported cases in the U.S. of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the Janssen vaccine. As of April 12, over 6.8 million doses of the Janssen vaccine had been administered in the U.S. 

The DPH subsequently directed vaccine providers in Massachusetts to pause administration of the Janssen vaccine.

The regional vaccine site in Randolph has administered 18,156 vaccine doses as of April 13, 1,668 of which have been the Janssen vaccine. At this time, all current vaccine clinics scheduled in Randolph are administering the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and these clinics are not affected.

Anyone who has received the Janssen vaccine and has concerns should contact their primary care provider.

The CDC and FDA are further reviewing the reported cases of clotting that have occurred and pausing the delivery of the Janssen vaccine has been recommended out of an abundance of caution. 

“The Janssen vaccine is a good option because of the level of convenience it offers, especially for those residents who are disabled, homebound or otherwise can’t easily attend two vaccination appointments, and we eagerly await additional guidance regarding use of the vaccine,” Town Manager Howard said.

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