SPEEDWAY, Ind. — Hoosiers getting the COVID-19 vaccine at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can continue on with their scheduled appointments.
Tuesday morning, the FDA and CDC announced a recommendation that all vaccine clinics "pause" the use of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six reports of rare blood clot cases.
The vaccine clinic at IMS was initially administering Johnson & Johnson shots. Starting Tuesday, Hoosiers will receive the Moderna vaccine. The Indiana State Department of Health said there was enough supply to keep the clinic open through Sunday, April 18. Those who were already scheduled for an appointment at IMS will receive the Moderna vaccine until further notice.
"The health department will be sending the two-dose Moderna vaccine to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is conducting mass vaccination clinics today, so that Hoosiers can continue to get vaccinated without interruption," ISDH said in a release. "The department is also working with other clinics that were scheduled to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the immediate future."
Because the Moderna vaccine is two doses, the state is still working out a location to hold clinics where individuals can get their second dose. More details on scheduling the second dose will be available soon, ISDH said.
Early Tuesday, ISDH said it was proactively notifying all vaccination clinics using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to pause its use. The agency encouraged all vaccine sites using the J&J shots to use existing Pfizer and Moderna doses to vaccinate Hoosiers who had previously scheduled appointments.
Indiana Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lindsay Weaver stressed during a news conference Tuesday that it remains important for Hoosiers to continue getting vaccinated.
Flu-like symptoms in the first few days after receiving a vaccine are normal. More serious symptoms, including severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, shortness of breath or leg swelling within three weeks of receiving the vaccine may be a sign of a larger problem. Those symptoms should be reported to a health care provider.
Anyone with an appointment to receive the J&J vaccine at a location other than Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the next two days can call 211 to cancel and reschedule at a clinic with either the Pfizer or Moderna shots.