COMMERCE CITY, Columbia (CBS4) – The COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City was suspended on Wednesday afternoon after 11 patients experienced adverse side effects after receiving the shot. Centura Health originally said there were 18 people affected, but later corrected that number to 11 people.
The site used the Johnson & Johnson / Janssen coronavirus vaccine.
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“We got there around two-thirty in the morning, and then about five cars from being next to make the shot and they stopped him,” recalled Paul Doucett, who had planned the vaccine at the scene. “There were two ambulances there. One shot as we shot and one was already installed. It took at least an hour and a half before he said, “We just don’t feel comfortable with the adverse reactions, so we have to reschedule them.”
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says patients experienced symptoms such as nausea and dizziness. They add that there is no reason to believe that other people vaccinated at this site are concerned.
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“We are committed to providing safe community clinics and are very grateful that today’s clinic has properly observed and helped patients with immediate side effects. We know it can be alarming to hear about transporting people to the hospital and we want to assure coloradans that the CDC and public health are closely monitoring all licensed vaccines continuously. As far as we know, today’s side effects were consistent with what can be expected, “said Scott Bookman, COVID-19 incident commander . “Getting a vaccine is much safer than getting seriously ill with COVID-19. That’s why I got the vaccine and wanted my family to get it. Based on everything we know, it remains true that the best vaccine you get is the one you can get first. Thanks to everyone who has had to reschedule their appointments for their patience today. “
The site is operated by Centura Health. A spokesman said 1,777 people were shot, and 11 experienced adverse reactions. Centura did not say what the symptoms were, only that they were “according to typical reactions,” according to medical experts.
“We saw a limited number of adverse reactions to the vaccine,” Centura spokeswoman Lindsay Radford said. “We followed our protocols and, with great caution, made the decision, in collaboration with the state, to pause operations for the rest of the day.”
Centura says nine people who experienced a reaction were checked on the spot and sent home while two others were taken to hospital for further observation.
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A total of 640 patients were unable to receive the vaccine on Wednesday. Centura Health plans to reschedule these appointments for April 11 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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Doucett admits he now has some concerns about receiving the J&J vaccine, and is happy that his vaccination will be rescheduled. He says things stopped when he was in line.
(They) drained some water and said, ‘There’s a little problem, you just have to stay a minute.’ And they came back about an hour later, and that’s when they said there was too much adverse reactions and that they were not comfortable with it and that they would reprogram it “.
“I’m glad I didn’t get shot and suffered some adverse reactions or anything,” he said.
But ultimately, he will be glad to be vaccinated.
“I’m a sailor, so I don’t care. I take the shot if they tell me it’s good for me, if Dr. Fauci says take the shot, I’ll do it. I trust science, ”he said.
His wife had already received the J&J vaccine earlier in the day at the Ball Arena vaccination site in Denver and he says he is doing very well.
“That won’t deter me at all,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, J & J / Janssen is a single-dose COVID vaccine that was 63% effective in clinical trials. Possible side effects on the arm where the shot occurs include pain, redness, and swelling. Other side effects on the body may include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, fever, and nausea. The CDC said side effects usually begin within a day or two of receiving the vaccine and should disappear within a few days.
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The CDPHE says there were ten previous reactions to community vaccination sites prior to this incident, according to the adverse event information system about the vaccine. The CDC and the FDA manage the system.