Star Journal Wisconsin pauses administration of J & J vaccine Star Journal Staff The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is instructing Wisconsin vaccine providers to stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine due to a federal review of adverse side effects reported. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for the pause, saying six cases of a “rare and severe” type of blood clot, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis were reported in the U.S. There have been nearly seven million doses of Johnson & Johnson administered. “We are pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine out of an abundance of caution. At this time, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Vaccine providers should not administer the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at this time, and should hold on to the vaccine until federal review has been completed.”