The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) announced health systems and federal retail pharmacies across the state will resume the use and administration of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine starting today. This decision was made following the announcement last Friday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that it has satisfactorily studied and approved the use of the vaccine for those 18 years of age and older, lifting the pause it had implemented on April 13, 2021.
“The pause and restart of this vaccine should be one more example of our commitment in ensuring vaccine safety and prove that transparent and rigorous established safety standards work,” said Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Secretary of Health. “We know all available vaccines have been proven effective against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, further highlighting the importance of getting your shot scheduled today.”
The pause, announced by the CDC on April 13, came after six reports of U.S. cases among women of rare and severe type of blood clots after receiving the vaccine. To date, 16,295 South Dakotans have received the one-dose series vaccine, and over 6.8 million J&J shots have been administered nationwide and no serious adverse reactions to the vaccine have been reported in South Dakota.
The SD-DOH would like to remind the public that while the side effects of concern are extremely rare, the FDA and CDC have recommended those who develop the following symptoms: severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of receiving to J&J vaccine, to immediately contact their healthcare provider.
South Dakotans can find vaccine access points near them by clicking here. For the most up-to-date state vaccine information, including vaccination numbers across the state, visit the SD-DOH Dashboard.
For latest news and COVID-19 available resources in South Dakota, visit DOH.SD.GOV.
