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People gather to receive and administer vaccines at the COVID-19 mass vaccination site in the Jones Convocation Center on the campus of Chicago State University on April 7, 2021. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago

CHICAGO — The city’s health department announced Friday how it’s replacing Johnson & Johnson doses at coronavirus vaccine events and sites.

The city has followed federal guidance and temporarily stopped using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while officials investigate if it’s linked to extremely rare but potentially dangerous blood clots found in a small number of women.

Johnson & Johnson only made up a small portion of the vaccine doses being used in Chicago, but being unable to use the shot did stall some of the city’s plans for events and vaccination programs.

Officials announced Friday they’ll switch to using Pfizer and Moderna doses at some sites, while they’ll close other sites or reduce how many shots are provided at them.

Here are their plans:

• Homebound vaccinations: The city suspended this program for several days because it was using Johnson & Johnson shots. But vaccinations will resume Friday, with people given Pfizer doses.

• Chicago State University: The site switched to using Pfizer vaccine doses Wednesday. People who had appointments can keep those spots and will get Pfizer shots instead of Johnson & Johnson.

• Faith Month: Events scheduled with Walgreens will continue but will use the Pfizer vaccine this weekend.

• Labor union mass vaccination site: The site will change to using Pfizer and Moderna doses, but it will only be able to do 1,200 shots per week for the time being. Appointments will resume Monday.

• United Center: The mass vaccination site was scheduled to switch to using Johnson & Johnson shots Tuesday. Instead, it will continue to use Pfizer.

• Health Department/CTA vaccination bus: This program has been stopped for now.

• O’Hare vaccination site: This site will not reopen. Anyone who had an appointment will be invited to get a shot at Wright College or the United Center. Events will be held for Midway and O’Hare employees.

• Illinois Restaurant Association events: These are paused until the week of April 26.

Block Club Chicago’s coronavirus coverage is free for all readers. Block Club is an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom.

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