- Less than 1% of Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients experienced adverse reactions this week.
- But officials in Colorado and North Carolina are pausing their use of the shot.
- An investigation is underway to see if there is an issue with the batch being used.
Officials in Colorado and North Carolina are pausing distribution of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine after a few people experienced minor adverse reactions this week.
As The Denver Post reported Wednesday, 11 people experienced reactions after receiving the J&J shot at a mass-vaccination clinic in Commerce City, just north of Denver. With over 1,700 having being given the vaccine that day, that comes out to less than 1%.
On Thursday, Peter Banko, CEO of Centura Health, which was distributing the vaccines, said the company would pause while public health officials investigate whether there is an issue with the batch, The Post's Meg Wingerter reported.
There were no issues earlier in the week, Wingerter noted.
In North Carolina, public health officials in Wake County reported 14 people - out of more than 2,300 - experienced adverse reactions on Thursday. "Currently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are analyzing the vaccine lot and expect to issue guidance within the next two hours," county officials said Thursday evening.
In a statement, Johnson & Johnson told Insider it takes any adverse reactions seriously, saying it will "carefully assess the events" and share any findings with the Food and Drug Administration.
"There is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of the people we serve," the company said.
South Africa is due to receive just over one million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine from a Gqeberha plant in the next two weeks, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Thursday.
