Public health officials operating the COVID-19 mass vaccination site at Oakland RingCentral Coliseum expect no appointment cancellations or loss of appointment capacity in the coming weeks due to the statewide pause in use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Following state and federal health guidance, only the federally approved Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be provided at the Coliseum, which is expected to continue delivering more than 6,000 vaccines per day on-site and through mobile clinics in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Patients with appointments scheduled at the site are encouraged to keep them. To make an appointment to receive a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine, visit myturn.ca.gov or call 1-833-422-4255. New appointments are available every day.
Alameda and Contra Costa counties, in partnership with the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), took over the operation of the site from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Monday and plan to continue providing vaccinations there for the next four weeks.
Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while the agencies investigate reports of possible, rare side effects that can cause blood clots.
The Coliseum site provided Johnson & Johnson vaccine from April 1 to April 11. The risk of an adverse reaction for people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is extremely low, according to the CDC.
People who received Johnson & Johnson vaccine should contact a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms such as severe headaches, severe abdominal pain, severe leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks of vaccination – these symptoms are different than the usual, minor reactions that some people may experience in a day or two following their vaccination.
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