Thursday, April 15 is the day the COVID-19 vaccine is available to everyone 16-years-old or older in the state of Washington. That means a lot more people will be looking for the vaccine and waiting in lines or making appointments at vaccine centers. More than a million people in the state are now eligible for the vaccine. Will young people get the vaccine? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, Yakima Health District officials are responding to the concern about the Johnson and Johnson vaccine that's been paused because of rare adverse events related to blood clots. Washington State officials halted the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Tuesday. Department of Health officials say any kind of reaction is rare but for those who are concerned there are signs to watch for. A press release from the Yakima Health District 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. “We encourage individuals to continue getting vaccinated. The decision to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was out of an abundance of caution.We have available vaccines nowthat are extremely effective against COVID-19. We encourage you to get vaccinated and build immunity for our community.” Dr. Larry Jecha, Interim Health Officer, Yakima Health District.
State officials say at the Community Vaccination Center at Yakima's State Fair Park Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are currently being administered.
Johnson and Johnson will not be administered while this pause is in effect. Local health officials say the Johnson & Johnson vaccine hasn't been used that much in the state of Washington and they say none of the people who have reported side effects are from Washington State. So far about 149,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been used in the state compared to the 4 million doses of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

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