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West Virginia University (including WVU Tech) will pause administration of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine based on a  joint recommendation released today (April 13) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Out of more than 6.8 million doses administered in the U.S., six reported cases of a rare and severe blood clot in individuals who have received the J&J vaccine are being monitored.

“The finding of abnormal blood clotting is extremely rare in citizens receiving the J&J vaccine, and in response to FDA and CDC guidance, and acting out of a great amount of caution, we will pause vaccinations with the J&J product for now," Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and executive dean of WVU Health Sciences and West Virginia’s Coronavirus Czar, said. "The fact that CDC and FDA are acting out of caution for 6 clotting episodes in 6.8 million doses given should reassure West Virginia residents that we are watching any and all associated findings in those vaccinated to make sure safety is our priority.”

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is convening a meeting on Wednesday to further review these cases and assess their potential significance. Until that process is complete, WVU will pause in the use of the J&J vaccine on all campuses out of an abundance of caution. WVU Tech has already reached out via email to students who previously had J&J appointments for Wednesday’s clinic to reschedule for Moderna doses based on availability.

WVU Tech administered 122 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine during a clinic held on Wednesday, April 7 at Van Meter Gymnasium. All other clinics held at WVU Tech have administered doses of the Moderna vaccine at 410 Neville Street.

The type of blood clot observed is called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and is seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia). All six cases occurred among women between the ages of 18 and 48, and symptoms occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. 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. 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 know that the key to saving lives and improving outcomes from COVID-19 in West Virginia is continuing to choose to be vaccinated,” Marsh said.

WVU strongly recommends all students and employees be vaccinated for COVID-19. If you have questions about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, the University suggests speaking with your primary care physician. Students can also reach out to the WVU Tech Student Health Clinic.

Email questions or concerns to techrelations@mail.wvu.edu. 

As a precaution, WVU Tech in Beckley will adjust on-campus operations for Thursday, February 11, 2021 due to anticipated inclement weather and deteriorating road conditions.

Thursday was previously designated as a non-instructional date on the academic calendar. As a result, no classes were scheduled.

Dr. Stephen Brown, Dean of the WVU Tech College of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences, gave his entry in WVU Tech’s “Last Lecture” series on Thursday, November 19. The archived video is now available on  YouTube.  You can also watch the retirement sendoff video for Dr. Brown on our YouTube channel . Check out photos from the Last Lecture and retirement recognition on Flickr . 

Original story: 

Read the original article from WVU Today.

WVU Tech professors across a variety of disciplines have been awarded more than $1.6 million in funding from the National Science Foundation.