Doctor: J&J pause shows system worked

While the pausing of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has brought numerous emotions, the halting of it for safety reasons actually shows that the system in place is working as designed, a medical professional said during a tele-town hall on the COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday.
According to Dr. Shantel Hebert Magee, the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Public Health Region 1 medical director, while people were stunned and upset over the move, she said she thought the public “felt a sense of reassurance and a certain degree of peace” with the vaccine’s pausing, too.
She said that when a new product is introduced to consumers, such as a medical device or drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducts “post-market surveillance” to ensure the product is safe.
“So we know that through this monitoring system, we were able to determine that there were six individuals who had formed a rare blood-clotting condition,” Magee said during the tele-town hall hosted by the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Louisiana Department of Health.
That problem arose out of approximately 7 million doses given of the vaccine. She said federal agencies taking the measures they do show that it is important to look into the drug further before distribution continues. She was happy to see the state follow suit.
However, Magee noted that more than 185 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been given with no instances of this blood-clotting issue.
“So I want people to feel reassured that the vaccine products that we currently have are the best products,” Magee said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, told CNN Sunday that by Friday, he expects a course of action to be determined on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. He said he could see it returning with warnings or restrictions.
Locally in Region 3, which includes St. Mary Parish, state Office of Public Health Regional Medical Director Dr. Chip Riggins said things are moving well.
“We’re pleased with the vaccination efforts across the seven-parish Bayou Region,” he said Wednesday. “Right now, we range anywhere from 18 to 22% of the population having completed the primary series, so we’re very pleased with that.”
Riggins said they have reached a good mark among senior citizens with nearly 70% to 75% of that group vaccinated.
The state’s vaccination efforts should include everyone in the state borders, including undocumented immigrants, state officials said.
“If you are within the state, you can get vaccinated,” Magee said. “We do not want to have any barriers based upon nationality, ethnicity, nothing that a person feels discriminated against.
“This is for everyone,” Magee added. “This is for our humanity. This is for our united safety, and for a return to community, I think it’s necessary we consider all of those who are part of our community. …”
Dr. Gina LaGarde, Office of Public Health medical director for Region 9, said that this same policy applies to testing.
Overall, LaGarde noted testing is down in her region, and she said that she thought that was a statewide problem.
“I think we need to encourage our community to get tested,” she said. “Testing is our way of identifying cases early, so that we can intervene early, isolate those who are infectious and to quarantine those who have been exposed.”
LaGarde said everyone plays a part in ending the pandemic. Citizens can do that through vaccination and also continuing the practices of masking, socially distancing and remaining home when ill.