By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wednesday's Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Hutchinson Sports Arena has been canceled.
"The FDA and CDC has come out and they want to put a pause on that across the country," said Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department. "Just in an abundance of caution, we're going to follow that and we're stopping giving out any of that Johnson and Johnson vaccine at this time until they do further studies and let us know that it's good to go."
Six women in the U.S. developed a rare blood-clotting disorder that prompted the move.
"The one that was set for tomorrow at the Sports Arena was Johnson and Johnson and that was the only large pod that we had," Hammersmith said. "We were taking it out to some smaller groups and we are canceling those, as well."
The Pfizer and Moderna two-shot series of vaccines are still available many places throughout the county. The Health Department only has the Moderna vaccine at this point that it can give.
"We have plenty of room at the First United Methodist Church," Hammersmith said. "If nothing else then, we will be adding more to that, or we will bring those doses back to the Health Department and we are able to administer there."
Hammersmith said that those who want the Moderna vaccine right away can still sign up at the county's website for an appointment time at the church.