DENVER (KKTV) – Due to the national lack of J&J COVID-19 vaccine and possible side effects, Centura Health announced on Friday night that more than 20,000 people registered to be shot J&J this weekend will be scheduled to receive Pfizer shot instead by several drive-thru clinics.
The announcement came on Friday night and affects people with an appointment through one of three mass vaccination sites at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
11 News spoke with Centura Health CEO Peter Banko shortly after the announcement. The decision came after a day of talks between the Centura Health clinical team and Colorado officials. Banko said Wednesday’s incident in which 11 people had side effects with the J&J vaccine at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park played a role in their decision.
Doses of J&J will remain in storage refrigerators as Centura Health uses them in outpatient settings, including Colorado physician clinics.
“Doses will not be wasted,” Banko explained. “We will administer them, only in different places.”
Banko added that anyone who still wants the J&J vaccine can work with Centura Health to get it in a different location from one of the mass vaccination sites.
“I would just make it clear that there is a difference between sitting in the front seat of the car or sitting at an examination table in a doctor’s office,” Banko added. “Modern, Pfizer, J&J are safe and efficient, we only make a few adjustments to ensure safety.”
Banko says the Health Belt is waiting for more guidance from the CDC and the FDA to decide whether to bring J&J back as an option for mass vaccination sites.
To get an appointment through the Health Belt at one of the three sites, click here.
The full version of the Health Belt sent on 9.04.21 is below:
The Health Belt will offer Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at only three mass vaccination events starting Saturday, April 10th. The three are Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine remains both extremely safe and effective. We made this decision because of the national shortage of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine and the side effects of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at our community vaccination event at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday, April 7 (side effects were 0 , 62% of those vaccinated on April 7). We will continue to administer the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine in our outpatient and medical care setting.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have remained flexible and agile, always ready to adapt our processes and systems rooted in our commitment to Safety First, People Always,” said Peter D. Banko, president and CEO of Centura Health. “I applaud and support our incredible caretakers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for their courage to see something, to say something and to stop the line.”
The 24,400 patients currently scheduled to receive the Janssen vaccine (Johnson & Johnson) at one of the three mass vaccination clinics for children between April 10 and 14 will keep the same schedule, date and location and will receive Pfizer dose a vaccine. This change will be made automatically for all registered persons and the appointments will be considered confirmed. Pfizer Dose two appointments will be scheduled automatically on the corresponding day 21, at the same time and location as the first dose. Affected patients will receive an email, a text message or both based on the information they provided during registration. If registered patients are unable to attend or need to reschedule, they can call 855-882-8065. The telephone line is open daily from 07:00 to 20:00.
“Right now, our priority is to take care of our neighbors who are currently scheduled to make sure they are able to get vaccinated,” said Shauna Gulley, MD, senior vice president and clinical director. “We appreciate your patience as we make this transition. We remain committed to vaccinating all residents of Colorado and western Kansas as soon as possible. ”
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