Norton Sound Health Corporation announced that they will continue administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, after a Friday recommendation to providers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that use of the vaccine may resume. 

Administration of the vaccine was originally paused when six individuals with low levels of blood platelets developed extremely rare and severe blood clots. The people who experienced the clots were women between the ages of 18-48 whose symptoms began occurring 6-13 days after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

According to the FDA, medical and scientific researchers have determined the risks for developing these types of blood clots are very low. Out of the seven-million people that had taken the vaccine before its pause, only six women were known to develop the clots. 

The FDA and CDC report that the vaccine is safe and effective for preventing COVID-19. It is the only COVID-19 vaccine approved in the United States that requires only one dose. 

Spokespeople for NSHC report that the health corporation is actively working to make the Johnson & Johnson vaccine available in the region again. NSHC also offers Pfizer and Moderna for individuals looking to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Image at top: A syringe and vaccine photo by NIAID. Via public domain, licensed under CC BY 2.0