| Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:
A short time ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a temporary pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson single dose COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA indicated that this recommendation is being made “out of an abundance of caution,” to allow for the opportunity for experts to review the cases of six individuals—out of the nearly 7 million who have received the J&J vaccine to date—who developed a rare type of blood clot shortly after being vaccinated. Given the FDA’s announcement, effective immediately the Barnes Center will suspend the distribution of the J&J vaccine until the FDA issues additional guidance based on its ongoing review. At the same time, following consultation this morning with the Onondaga County Health Department, later today the county will provide the Barnes Center with a supply of the Pfizer vaccine so the University can continue to provide on-campus COVID-19 vaccinations to students, faculty and staff. Later today, we will provide an update with additional relevant information about the evolving J&J situation and our transition to the Pfizer vaccine. Finally, for those with a vaccination appointment today at the Barnes Center, your appointment will likely be rescheduled. You will be contacted directly by the Barnes Center to update your appointment date and time. If you have an appointment tomorrow, please plan to attend as scheduled to receive the Pfizer vaccine. There continues to be widespread scientific support that broad vaccination is the safest and most effective way to mitigate exposure to and the spread of this communicable illness. I urge you to visit the CDC website or the FDA website to learn more about the process by which vaccinations are reviewed and approved. The University will continue to monitor this developing situation and share the most up-to-date, pertinent information as it becomes available. Sincerely, |