Ohio to follow CDC guidelines, resume J&J vaccinations

Gov. Mike DeWine has announced Ohio will resume one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations, going along with new recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency announced at the end of last week benefits of continued use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh risks of a rare and life-threatening blood clot found in 15 recipients. Those blood clots have resulted in three deaths and seven hospitalizations among that group, which was made up entirely of women with most under age 50. Those cases are among roughly 8 million people nationwide who've received a Johnson & Johnson dose. "A comprehensive analysis by the independent medical professionals on the (CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization) has resulted in the recommendation that the benefits of Johnson & Johnson vaccine outweigh the risks and that vaccine administration resume," DeWine said. "The CDC and FDA have accepted those recommendations, lifting the pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Providers in Ohio are permitted to immediately resume administering Johnson & Johnson vaccines in Ohio, provided they continue to follow all guidance by the CDC and FDA." Medical professionals have given shots to more than 75,000 Medina County residents to date, according to state figures. ODH is issuing guidance to providers on use of Johnson & Johnson vaccines and treatment methods for the rare blood clot, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Anyone who's received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and develops shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms (including severe or persistent headaches or blurred vision), or petechiae beyond the site of vaccination should seek immediate medical care. Latest Ohio Department of Health reporting shows Medina County having 260 cumulative COVID-19 deaths among more than 15,000 cases, which have also led to 701 hospitalizations. Ohio's case total continues to stretch past 1 million but the state reported just 873 new cases on Sunday, well below many recent days in excess of 1,500 and some above 2,000. Statewide cases have resulted in 19,122 deaths and 55,685 hospitalizations, according to ODH. Medina County's current case incidence rate is 158.6 per 100,000 residents. There have been 285 cases in the two-week period from April 7 to April 20. It's the 38th-highest rate in the state, according to local health officials. Nearby counties with the 20 highest infection rates include Cuyahoga County (266.6 cases), fifth highest; Summit County (258 cases), sixth highest; and Lorain County (213.3 cases), at the 14th-highest rate in the state.