DENVER (KKTV) – Due to the national shortage of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine and possible adverse reactions, Centura Health announced Friday night that more than 20,000 people registered to receive the J&J shot this weekend will be scheduled to receive the Pfizer shot at various drive-thru clinics.
The announcement came Friday night and affects people who have an appointment through one of three elevated mass vaccination sites at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado State Fairgrounds to Pueblo.
11 News spoke with Centura Health CEO Peter Banko shortly after the announcement. The decision was made after a day of discussion between the Centura Health clinical team and representatives from the state of Colorado. Banko said Wednesday’s incident where 11 people had adverse reactions to the J&J vaccine at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park played a role in his decision.
J&J doses will be kept in storage refrigerators, as Centura Health uses them in outpatient care centers, including Colorado medical clinics.
“No dose will be wasted,” Banko explained. “We will only manage them in different places”.
Banko added that anyone who still wants the J&J vaccine can work with Centura Health to get it in a different location from one of the mass vaccination start sites.
“I would just clarify, there is a difference between sitting in the front seat of the car or sitting at an examination table in a doctor’s office,” Banko added. “Modern, Pfizer, J&J are safe and effective, we’re just making a few adjustments to ensure safety.”
Banko says Centura Health expects more guidance from the CDC and FDA to decide whether to return J&J as an option for mass vaccination sites.
To get an appointment through Centura Health at one of the three sites, click here.
The following is the full version of Centura Health sent on 4/9/21:
Centura Health will offer COVID-19 Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in just three advanced mass vaccination events, starting Saturday, April 10th. All three are Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs and Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine remains extremely safe and effective. We made this decision because of the national shortage of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine and the adverse reactions to the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine during our community vaccination event at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday, May 7th. ‘April (adverse reactions were 0.62% of those vaccinated on April 7). We will continue to administer the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at our medical and outpatient clinic.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have remained flexible and agile, always ready to adapt our processes and systems based on our commitment to Safety First, People Always,” said Peter D. Banko, President and CEO of Centura Health . “I applaud and support our amazing caretakers at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for their courage in seeing something, saying something and stopping the line.”
The 24,400 patients currently scheduled to receive the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine at one of our mass vaccination clinics for all between April 10 and 14 will maintain the same appointment time, date and date. same location and they will receive the Pfizer dose a vaccine. This change will be made automatically for all registered persons and appointments will be considered confirmed. Both Pfizer Dose appointments will be scheduled automatically on the corresponding 21st, at the same time and place as your first appointment. Affected patients will receive an email, text message or both depending on the information they provided during registration. If registered patients are unable to attend the appointment or need to reschedule, they can call 855-882-8065. The telephone line is open from 7 to 20 hours every day.
“Right now, our priority is to take care of our currently scheduled neighbors to make sure they can be vaccinated,” said Shauna Gulley, MD, senior vice president and general manager of the clinic. “We appreciate your patience as we make this transition. We remain committed to vaccinating all residents of Colorado and western Kansas as soon as possible. “
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