Local pharmacy having tough time getting people to get Johnson & Johnson vaccine

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — A local pharmacy is having a tough time getting people to roll up their sleeves for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The FDA is allowing people to get the shot, saying its benefits of preventing COVID-19 complications outweighs the risks in developing a rare blood clot.

Time is ticking until those Johnson & Johnson doses expire. The pharmacist, Phillip Sprinkle, said it can only be refrigerated for so long and is only good until mid-June.

Town and Country Drugs in Taylorsville got 500 doses four weeks ago but still have more than 400 shots on hand.

Raymond Price, 81, didn’t hesitate to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on Friday, but he’s one of the few people in town willing to get it.

“I’m happy to get it and everything. It’s what I wanted. It’s a one shot. It’s gonna be a good day,” Price said.

Sprinkle said they got the Johnson & Johnson shots days before the CDC and FDA recommended a pause in giving the vaccine.

The federal government wanted to review the data involving six rare cases of a severe type of blood clot in people who had gotten the shot. Following a thorough safety review, the pause was lifted but some people are still hesitant to get the shot over the other ones widely available.

“It’s something that made people hesitate but everything that we know so far it seems to be such a rare occurrence it’s not a good reason not to get it. If you want to get a one shot vaccine it’s still a great, great opportunity,” Sprinkle said.

(WATCH: Local vaccine providers prepared to explain J&J warning to patients before giving shot)

Local vaccine providers prepared to explain J&J warning to patients before giving shot

Teresa Snowden got the Moderna vaccine but she said if the Johnson & Johnson vaccine had been available at the time, she would have gotten that one.

“To me they’re all three good shots. I would take any three at any time. And I highly recommend anyone do that,” Snowden said.

The drug store said it’s willing to go out in the community to large groups that want the shot. They’re also willing to send it to another location in need.

The vaccine is only good through June 23.

Cox Media Group