ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida is temporarily suspending Johnson & Johnson vaccinations because a half-dozen people developed blood clots after getting the shot.
During a news conference on Tuesday, DeSantis said Florida is following recommendations for a pause from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while safety issues are examined.
In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they were investigating unusual clots in six women that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and occurred together with low platelets. All six cases were in women between the ages of 18 and 48.
The governor said he received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this month and felt no ill effects other than a temporarily sore arm, adding that he believes the recommended pause will soon be lifted. More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been given in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects.
“I think the track record for Johnson & Johnson is good.” The governor also said he didn’t think people who already got the J&J vaccine should worry.
“I don’t think you will have problems. I don’t think people should be freaking out.”
