On April 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted its pause on the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, following a review by a federal vaccine safety review panel.
 
Clinics can immediately resume administering the vaccine if they have appropriate in-language education materials available to inform conversations with vaccine recipients regarding benefits, risks, and available vaccine options.  ​California has prepared fact sheets about the vaccine to inform conversations between health care providers and vaccine recipients.
 
In April, the CDC and FDA recommended a temporary pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine out of an abundance of caution, and California followed that temporary pause. With nearly 8 million doses administered nationally, there have been at least 15 reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot, seen in combination with low levels of blood platelets. These symptoms occur 6 to 15 days after vaccination.
 
If you have received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and develop shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision, or easy bruising/tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection within three weeks after vaccination, contact your healthcare provider, or seek medical care.