Local Health Experts Talk Next Steps For Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Rollout In Oklahoma

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is giving health providers across the U.S the green light to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The Oklahoma State Health Department told News 9 they have almost 90,000 doses on hand and are already administering the vaccine.

“The J&J vaccine is safe; they are talking about 1 out of 500,000 people getting these clots. It is about the same as getting hit by lightening, this is not something that is frequent,” Oklahoma Doctor Larry Bookman said.

OSDH is now notifying their 335 partners to start administering the vaccine. This time, with an additional fact sheet about the rare blood clotting reaction.

“It should answer why we had the pause and now that it is lifted, the information about safety,” said Mendy Stohn, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Health Services.

Oklahomans can expect shipments of the vaccine weekly.

“This week we will only see 2,200 for the entire state and we anticipate that to stay the same for the next few weeks,” she said.

OSDH and other medical professionals want to reassure Oklahomans that the benefits outweigh the risks.

“This is extremely low risk it’s not perfect, no, but nothing in this world is, so I feel very comfortable with J&J,” said Pediatrician Dwight Sublett.

The state said the best way to find out how to find a certain vaccine in Oklahoma is through vaccinefinder.org.

During the pause the FDA and CDC also worked with medical providers on how to treat the rare blood clotting adverse reaction.