CORONAVIRUS VACCINES IN LOUISIANA— More than a million people in Louisiana have completed their coronavirus vaccine series. That's about 22% of the state’s population. The latest health department data was released Thursday. Officials hailed the benchmark. But that vaccination rate remains far below the threshold scientists say is needed to stop the uncontrolled spread of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. Louisiana has launched a broad statewide effort to try to overcome vaccine reluctance. But adding to that reluctance is the Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administrations’ recent call to place the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine “on hold” so health experts can look into rare blood clots that occurred in 6 women weeks after receiving the coronavirus vaccine. The type of clot is called a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or CVST for short.
"The blood clots are clots that occurredin a vein that is near the brain in the skull," explained Dr. John Vanchiere, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease at LSU Health Shreveport. "Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis around the brain is very severe but blood clots can also occur in lower extremities in particular."
Dr. Vanchiere says people who have had the J&J vaccine and are concerned should be aware of CVST symptoms.
"We encourage folks to just be aware and if you have severe headache or numbness in your lower extremity or onset shortness of breath, those are things you would want to follow up very promptly with your primary care provider or urgent care facility," Vanchiere said.
it will likely take weeks before the CDC concludes its J&J vaccine investigation.