April 14, 2021
4-13-2021
Statement on Pausing J & J Vaccine
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) will pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson (J & J) vaccine statewide starting immediately, following the guidance of the FDA/CDC. Use of that vaccine will be put on hold until we receive further recommendations from our federal partners about how best to move forward. Safety is the highest priority when it comes to all COVID-19 vaccines.
This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution based on the appearance of a rare but serious side effect including serious brain blood clots (CVST) combined with low platelet counts in six patients, all women under 50. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will review these cases in the days ahead and will recommend guidance going forward.
For the full news release from the DOH click here.
Talk. Test. Treat. STI Awareness
Why STI Awareness Matters More Than Ever Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are more common than many people think, and they often show no symptoms. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of new infections occur in the United States each year, many of them among people who don’t realize they’re at risk….