Montana Western Students, Faculty and Staff,

Many of you may have seen the news this morning that the CDC and FDA issued a recommendation to states to suspend use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines. This afternoon the State of Montana accepted that recommendation and instructed vaccine distributors to suspend use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine until it can be determined whether there is a link between the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and blood clots.

If you have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you should not panic. Instances of blood clotting events after vaccination with Johnson & Johnson appear to be exceedingly rare, there have been six reported events in approximately 6.8 million distributed doses.

If you have received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, contact your healthcare provider or seek medical care.

Beaverhead County Public Health will still have a vaccination clinic at the National Guard Armory this Friday, April 16^th, and will be distributing only the Moderna vaccine. If you have an appointment scheduled this week to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, please contact Beaverhead County Public Health to reschedule for a Moderna vaccine or to cancel your appointment.

For questions regarding these vaccinations or to make an appointment, please call 406-683-3203. 

Be well, Bulldogs!

Sadie Caltrider, COVID-19 Testing Coordinator
Baylee Rawson, COVID-19 Communications Coordinator