JIC RELEASE NO. 648 - CDC and FDA Lift Pause on Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine; Update on Clusters: 693 Tested Friday, Saturday & Monday; Eight of 581 Test Positive for COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule; Food Commodities Distribution Continues

CDC and FDA Lift Pause on Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) has resumed use of the Johnson and Johnson/Janssen (J&J/Janssen) vaccine following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift the pause on the single-dose vaccine. CDC and FDA have determined the following:

• Use of the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine should be resumed in the United States. 
• The FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
• The FDA has determined that the available data show that the vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.
• At this time, the available data suggest that the chance of thrombosis-thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a condition that causes low blood clots and low platelets, occurring is very low, but the FDA and CDC will remain vigilant in continuing to investigate this risk. The pause was recommended earlier this month after reports of six cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals following administration of the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine
• Health care providers administering the vaccine and vaccine recipients or caregivers should review the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) and Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers, which have been revised to include information about the risk of this syndrome, which has occurred in a very small number of people who have received the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine.

Additionally, DPHSS issued Physician’s Alert No. 2021-008, advising Vaccine Partners of the determination by the CDC and FDA to lift the pause on the use of the J&J/Janssen vaccine. The J&J/Janssen vaccine will be available for eligible Guam residents later this week. More information will be provided once available. 

Update on Clusters: 693 Tested Friday, Saturday & Monday 
DPHSS conducted COVID-19 testing for staff and patrons of the A-Class Lounge and The Tsubaki Tower on Friday, April 23, Saturday, April 24, and Monday, April 26. Staff and patrons who were at A-Class Lounge on or after April 7 and staff and guests of the The Tsubaki Tower between April 14 - 18 were tested for COVID-19 as part of two separate clusters reported at both establishments. The following is a breakdown of samples collected from each COVID-19 testing outreach:

DPHSS will resume COVID-19 testing Tuesday, April 27 at the Old Carnival Grounds in Tiyan, Barrigada from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for staff and patrons of A-Class Lounge and The Tsubaki Tower. 

Staff and patrons who were at the A-Class Lounge on or after April 7 and staff and guests who were at The Tsubaki Tower between April 14 – 18 should monitor for symptoms and get tested. COVID-19 symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath 
• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

This list is not exhaustive of all possible symptoms. Other less common symptoms have been reported, including gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends individuals get tested between five to seven days after exposure to a positive COVID-19 case. DPHSS encourages staff, guests, and patrons to follow these recommended guidelines. If you develop any of the symptoms described above, contact your medical provider, or call 311 option 1 for more information. If your symptoms are severe, seek medical attention immediately or call 911.

Results: Eight New Cases of COVID-19
Eight (8) new cases of COVID-19 were identified out of 581 tests performed by DPHSS on Sunday, April 25, and from tests run by other labs between Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25. Four (4) cases reported recent travel history and were identified in quarantine. Three (3) cases were identified through contact tracing. To date, there have been a total of 7,923 officially reported cases of COVID-19 with 136 deaths, 65 cases in active isolation, and 7,722 not in active isolation. The CAR Score is 0.7.

The community is reminded to remain vigilant:

• Remain home if you are sick. Keep away from others who are sick and limit face-to-face contact with others. 
• Keep a safe distance of 6 ft. or more between yourself and others who are outside of your household.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• If visiting elderly family members, continue to practice social distancing to protect those you love.

COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue at the locations and times below. Please bring a photo ID. Those due for their second dose are reminded to bring their COVID-19 immunization card.

Food Commodities Distribution Continues 
GDOE, State Agency for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Nutrition Service distribution will be available to village constituents only on a first come, first served basis. A limit of three households per vehicle will be serviced at the distributions.

Face masks must be worn. Bring a photo ID. Village Mayors distribution schedule is as follows:

For the latest information on COVID-19, visit dphss.guam.gov or guamrecovery.com. For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10. 

Click here to view COVID TESTING TIYAN

Click here to view UOG VACCINATIONS APRIL27-MAY1