United Supermarkets Cancels Remaining April COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

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United Supermarkets has canceled the remainder of its vaccination clinics scheduled for the month of April 2021 at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.

The clinics, originally scheduled for every Thursday in April, were to feature the new single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, with a focus on getting college students vaccinated for the virus.

But now the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is under investigation for a potential link to dangerous blood clots. The FDA reported last week that six women had developed a rare blood clot that affects the brain after getting the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but the clots themselves have yet to be directly linked to the vaccine.

According to The Washington Post, Emergent BioSolutions has shut down manufacturing of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at one of their plants in Baltimore, Maryland after they say an FDA inspection revealed potential contamination of several thousand doses of the vaccine.

United Supermarkets was relying on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to help vaccinate college students because it only requires a single dose instead of two. Because the Johnson & Johnson vaccine likely won't be in use for some time, the United Family has canceled the two remaining clinics left in April.

In a press release, Tim Purser, director of pharmacy for United Supermarkets, explained the decision.

"While these clinics were open to everyone, part of the objective was to offer students an easy and accessible option to get vaccinated right on campus," he said. "With finals and summer break right around the corner, the two-appointment structure seems less doable as students prepare to leave town."