Texan hospitalized after receiving Johnson & Johnson vaccine, state officials say

HOUSTON – The Texas Department of State Health Services said Thursday that a woman was hospitalized in Texas after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with a “similar profile” as others who experienced adverse effects of the vaccine.

The woman’s age, condition and identity have not been released to protect her privacy, officials said.

In Texas, officials said 616,000 J&J vaccine doses have been administered.

U.S. health regulators recommended last week that use of the J&J vaccine be paused after six cases of rare brain blood clots, accompanied by low platelet levels, were reported in women following vaccination, out of some 7 million people who have received the shot in the United States.

Local doctors and county judges said the news coincided with fewer people getting vaccinated in our area.

“It coincided with some of our decreased visits but I think it’s more than just people nervous about the vaccine,” Dr. James McCarthy from Memorial Hermann Health System said, “I think it’s more about, we’ve gone through that population that was really ready with their hands up and now we’ve got to work on the folks that are either having trouble accessing the health system or a little resistant and hesitant to get the vaccine.”

The CDC and FDA continue to investigate the woman’s case, Texas officials said Thursday.

Friday morning the CDC plans to meet to discuss the pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.