FORT HALL — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Emergency Operations Center advises the Fort Hall Indian Health Center, Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center and the Tribal Health and Human Services are pausing administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised of rare blood clotting reported in six people who received it in the U.S.
The CDC and FDA are investigating unusual clots that occurred 6 to 13 days after the vaccination. All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48 according to Southeastern Idaho Public Health. As of April 12, more than 6.8 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered.
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Devon Boyer said in an EOC press release, “The health of our community is very important to us. Our Tribal Health center are pausing the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine as a precaution.”
If anyone has received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and have symptoms such as severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath should contact their health care provider.
The EOC release said once they have more information they will provide an update to the Fort Hall community. CDC convened a meeting of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on April 14 to further review the cases and assess their potential significance.
The Tribal EOC said Fort Hall is still administrating the Moderna vaccine. Contact IHS/THHS at 208-238-5427 or 208-238-5435 or the Shoshone-Bannock Community Health Center at 208-478-3987 to schedule an appointment.