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Summary (cont.)
▪ For clinicians
‒ Maintain a high index of suspicion for symptoms that might represent serious thrombotic events
or thrombocytopenia in patients who have recently received the Jansen COVID-19 vaccine,
including severe headache, backache, new neurologic symptoms, severe abdominal pain,
shortness of breath, leg swelling, petechiae (tiny red spots on the skin), or new or easy bruising.
Obtain platelet counts and screen for evidence of immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.
‒ In patients with a thrombotic event and thrombocytopenia after the Jansen COVID-19 vaccine,
evaluate initially with a screening PF4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay as would be
performed for autoimmune HIT. Consultation with a hematologist is strongly recommended.
‒ Do not treat patients with thrombotic events and thrombocytopenia following receipt of Janssen
COVID-19 vaccine with heparin, unless HIT testing is negative.
‒ If HIT testing is positive or unable to be performed in patient with thrombotic events and
thrombocytopenia following receipt of Jansen COVID-19 vaccine, non-heparin anticoagulants and
high-dose intravenous immune globulin should be strongly considered.
‒ Report adverse events to VAERS, including serious and life-threatening adverse events and deaths
in patients following receipt of COVID-19 vaccines as required under the Emergency Use
Authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines.