J&J Vaccine Paused

Photo of a female student getting a vaccine shot at the Blue Box Theater
Students get vaccinated for COVID-19 in the Blue Box Theater in Gatton Student Center April 8, 2021. Mark Cornelison | UK Photo.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

UK Will Temporarily Pause J&J Vaccines; Continue Administering Pfizer  

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 13, 2021) In an abundance of caution, the University of Kentucky will temporarily pause administering the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine at the Gatton Student Center site following recommendations this morning by the federal government. 

Vaccines will continue to be administered to those who are scheduled for appointments using the Pfizer two-shot vaccine until further guidance is issued by the federal government about J&J. 

The federal government made the recommendations early this morning after reports that six recipients of the J&J vaccine in  other locations in the United States – out of some 6.8 million doses delivered -- developed blood clots within about two weeks of receiving the J&J vaccine. 

The federal government paused administering the J&J vaccine at its vaccination sites and recommended that state locations do the same. 

UK is following that recommendation while further study around the vaccine is conducted. 

UK’s other vaccine sites – at Kroger Field, University Health Service, its retail pharmacy and mobile clinic sites – already utilize either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. 

As more information becomes available, UK and health officials will move quickly to communicate the latest details, acting always in the best interests of the health and safety of the community.

Go to https://www.uky.edu/coronavirus/vaccines for the latest information. You may also call 859-218-0111 (UK Health Corps) if you have questions.

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 12, 2021) — The Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine is still available to UK students at the Wild Health testing location in the Blue Box Theater at the Gatton Student Center.

The one-shot J&J vaccine was available at two locations during the week of April 5. Moving forward, the vaccine will be available at one location — the Gatton Student Center — for extended hours: from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. 

Appointments are preferred but not required. Registering only takes a few minutes.

Students can make an appointment in advance here.

DETAILS:

  • Students who already plan on getting a COVID-19 test, are encouraged to consider receiving a J&J vaccine while they are there and upon completing their test.
  • Students should bring their student ID.
  • Those who have signed up to be vaccinated at Kroger Field but would prefer the J&J vaccine instead, should cancel their Kroger Field appointment. They can do that here and use their unique access code that was sent to the email used in the vaccine request form.
  • The J&J vaccine will be available while supplies last.
  • Individuals must be 18 or older to receive the J&J vaccine. Those 16 or 17 years of age can go to Kroger Field but must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

MORE ABOUT THE J&J VACCINE:

  • The J&J vaccine is the third of three vaccines being widely administered throughout the United States. As with the other two vaccines — produced by Pfizer and Moderna — J&J's vaccine was the subject of multiple clinical trials involving thousands of people and was subject to extensive review and scrutiny before being approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration.
  • It is safe and highly effective in preventing the virus and serious illness.
  • More specifically, it was 85 percent effective at protecting against severe cases of illness in late-stage trials, and no deaths or hospitalizations occurred a month after participants received the vaccine.
  • You can read more information and view some videos about the J&J vaccine here.

THE KROGER FIELD VACCINE CLINIC:

  • The Kroger Field Vaccine Clinic continues to be operational. If you would prefer to receive your vaccination (currently administering Pfizer vaccine) at this location, you can register here.
  • If you have already registered and want to keep your appointment, you do not need to change anything. Please plan on coming to Kroger Field at your scheduled time.

If individuals have any questions, they can contact our team at vaccine@uky.edu or 859-218-0111. You can also visit our student vaccine webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.