J&J shot returns to vaccine rotation at UNC Health

Beginning Wednesday, UNC Health is putting the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine back into the rotation.

UNC will administer the shots at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill weeks after the J&J vaccine underwent a nationwide pause based on guidance by the CDC.

UNC Health's Dr. David Wohl explained the delay for UNC returning to the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.

Fewer seeking Johnson & Johnson vaccine after pause

"It really had only to do with logistics of scheduling," said Dr. Wohl. "Just getting our schedule back up, It had nothing to do with further study or scrutiny."

Last week, Wake County added the J&J vaccine to the mix with a mass event Thursday in Holly Springs. Johnston County also recently added the shot back into the rotation.

Experts have reviewed the data and CDC recommendations to resume J&J COVID-19 vaccines, and continue to strongly recommend patients get vaccinated.

"If you're not vaccinated, you're not protected," said Dr. Rachel Roper, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at East Carolina University. "The chance of dying is about 1 in 100. That's a really high percentage. Your chance of getting a blood clot from the vaccine is 1 or 2 in a million so it's much safer to get vaccinated."