(CENTENNIAL, COLO.) The health safety of our caregivers, communities, and patients is our top priority at Centura Health. In response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) joint recommendation, we will pause the use of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine throughout our health system in Colorado, Utah and western Kansas.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have followed the guidance from the CDC on how to respond to COVID-19, and it has served us and our communities extremely well,” said Peter D. Banko, President & Chief Executive Officer. “We remain committed to leveraging this guidance to support our physician and clinical decision-making with an unwavering and firm commitment to Safety First, People Always.”
Out an abundance of caution, we made the decision on Friday, April 9 to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at our three drive-up clinics following adverse reactions experienced by 11 individuals at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. These individuals – two of which required transport to the emergency department for care (treated and released that same day) – were experiencing dizziness, light headedness, feeling faint, rapid breathing, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and/or low blood pressure.
Centura Health will now expand the pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at all of our care sites. No dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been administered by Centura Health since our initial April 7 pause. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine allocated to us by the state is being safely stored in freezers and we will follow the CDC’s ongoing guidance on next steps.
To date, Centura has administered 13,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to our community. That includes 7,800 at the Broadmoor World Arena drive-up clinic in Colorado Springs and 6,600 at Dick’s Sporting Good’s Park in Commerce City. No Johnson & Johnson vaccine was administered to individuals at the drive-up clinic at the State Fairgrounds in Pueblo. If anyone has concerns or experiences any side effects, including severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain and/or shortness of breath within three weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, they should contact their personal doctor or call 911 immediately.
“For nearly four months, we have safely distributed more than 218,000 COVID-19 vaccines across our ministries in Colorado, Utah and western Kansas, and nearly 56,000 vaccines at our three drive-up mass vaccination sites (Colorado Springs, Commerce City, and Pueblo),” said Shauna Gulley, MD, Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer. “As an internist and pediatrician, I continue to emphasize the importance of signing up to receive your vaccine. One of the best ways to protect yourself, your loved ones, and help end this pandemic is to get your COVID-19 vaccine.”
As a High Reliability Organization (HRO), we will continue to speak up for safety for our incredible caregivers, communities, and patients. We will are offering the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for individuals with vaccine appointments. We are acting with safety in mind, and we remain committed to vaccinating every member of our flourishing communities.
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About Centura Health
Centura Health connects individuals, families and neighborhoods across Colorado, Utah and western Kansas with more than 6,000 physicians and 21,000 of the best hearts and minds in health care. Through our 17 hospitals, two senior living communities, health neighborhoods, physician practices and clinics, home care and hospice services, and Flight For Life® Colorado, we are making the region’s best health care accessible and affordable in every community we serve. We believe you can inspire the people you care about to live healthier lives by encouraging them to do the little things that can make a big difference. We’re Centura Health, and we’re here for your health. For information on Centura Health or any of the facilities in our network, please visit Centura Health website.
Media Contact
Lindsay Radford
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Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2018. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711).
