The Long Beach Health Department is complying with the federal mandate to pause the administration of the Johnson/Janssen vaccine after reports of a rare and severe type of blood clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) following vaccine administration. While this extremely rare occurrence has been reported in just six people out of more than six million who received the vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Center for Disease Control (CDC) is pausing use of the vaccine out of an abundance of caution. There have been no reports of CVST among Long Beach residents.

The City will pause the use of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine, effective immediately, pending further investigation and updates by the FDA and CDC. Appointments at the Long Beach Convention Center this week will not be affected as the Johnson and Johnson vaccine was not scheduled for appointments. Those who had mobile vaccine clinic appointments for the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine will be contacted to be offered Pfizer or Moderna. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have not been associated with CVST.

People who received the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen vaccine more than one month ago have very little risk of experiencing CVST. Those who received their vaccine less than one month ago should contact their healthcare provider if they experience any of the following symptoms: severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath. These are different from the mild, flu-like symptoms in the days immediately following being vaccinated.

This is a developing issue, and the Long Beach Health Department will continue to share information as soon as it is received. .