COVID-19 vaccine preparation at a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Portland International Airport, April 9, 2021. The clinic is a joint operation hosted by Oregon Health & Science University, the Port of Portland and the American Red Cross.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff/ OPB
Health care providers in Oregon may continue to administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as long as they can ensure that patients or their caregivers are informed about the benefits and risks in their primary language.
The Oregon Health Authority issued that guidance this weekend after a safety review. The Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration lifted the pause on delivering the vaccine on Friday, saying that the risk of blood clots is extremely small. The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup found that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is “generally safe and effective and that the resumption of its use is warranted once culturally and linguistically appropriate patient and provider educational materials in plain language that support informed decision-making are available.”
There are over 100,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine currently stored at vaccination sites in Oregon.
In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee said Saturday inoculations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can resume.
“The benefits of the J&J vaccine outweigh the risks associated with it,” Inslee said in a news release.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
