By Liz Holland

Salisbury-area clinics that were offering the one-dose Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine have switched to two-dose Pfizer or Moderna after state health officials suspended the use of J&J, because of concern over blood-clotting issues.

TidalHealth, which operates the mass vaccination site at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center, announced it has switched over to the Pfizer vaccine which is the only one approved for 16- and 17-year-olds. Teens under age 18 must bring a parent or guardian to sign a consent form.

To sign up for appointments visit massvax.maryland.gov.

The Wicomico County Health Department said that anyone with an appointment this week to receive the J&J vaccine will receive a call letting them know they can keep their appointment as long as they agree to receive the Moderna vaccine instead.

On Tuesday, Maryland health officials paused the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the recommendation of the Food & Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after rare blot clots were reported.

“Based on the federal government’s recommendation and out of an abundance of caution, the Maryland Department of Health directs all Maryland Covid-19 vaccine providers to pause the administration of Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccines until further federal guidance is issued,” the department said in a news release. “Providers should continue to maintain their supplies of Johnson & Johnson vaccines in a manner that prevents wastage.”

Out of more than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis were reported in six women under the age of 50 between 6 to 13 days after getting a shot.

One of the women died and another is in critical condition, federal health officials said.

The CDC and FDA are reviewing data, but “until that process is complete, we are recommending a pause in the use of this vaccine out of an abundance of caution,” officials said.

Treatment of this specific type of blood clot is different from the treatment that might typically be administered. Usually, an anticoagulant drug called heparin is used to treat blood clots. In this setting, administration of heparin may be dangerous, and alternative treatments need to be given.

The CDC was scheduled to convene a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. FDA will review that analysis as it also investigates these cases.

Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare, health officials said.

People who have received the J&J vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination should contact their health care provider.