Nassau County joined the state of New York in announcing a pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at county-run vaccination sites.
Nassau Executive Laura Curran made the announcement just hours after the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration for the vaccine pause due to six severe, but rare, blood clotting issues.
The pause presented a particular issue for appointments at the Nassau Coliseum, where Johnson & Johnson doses were being used. But Curran says her administration spoke with Northwell officials, who provided them with Moderna doses so appointments weren't canceled Tuesday.
"The pausing of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a setback," says Curran.
Nassau Health Commissioner Dr. Lawrence Eisenstein says the pause could end quickly, but how long it will be is not yet known.
Curran says her office is working to reevaluate a number of operations that are being affected. One program impacted is the one that included vaccinating homebound seniors as well as inmates.
"These are the populations that were relying on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine so hopefully we can resume these programs and see if we get shots in the arms of these residents," says Curran.
The Town of Hempstead vaxmobile, which has been distributing Johnson & Johnson, was also on pause Tuesday. Officials say it will hit the road again Wednesday carrying the Pfizer vaccine.
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone says about 2,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered, however, he says there are no current or future programs set to use them because of the shortage.