Rise in blood clots forces vaccine chiefs to ponder alternative to AstraZeneca for under-40s

[Mitz]

Rise in blood clots forces vaccine chiefs to ponder alternative to AstraZeneca for under-40s

The benefits still outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people, and the number of adverse reactions remains very low, said the MHRA

Vaccine chiefs are considering whether under-40s should be given a different vaccine to the AstraZeneca jab, after new figures showed a rise in risk of blood clots.

New data from the Medical Healthcare products and Regulatory Agency (MHRA) indicated the risk of developing a serious blood clot has also gone up from one in 250,000 to around one in 126,600 in a fortnight.

Earlier this month, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that under-30s should be offered an alternative to the Oxford jab, because the risk no longer outweighed the benefits for younger people.

However, The Telegraph understands that the JCVI is considering whether a further change of policy is needed for older groups, and is currently reviewing the new data ahead of the rollout to under-40s.

On April 7, Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, presented data at a televised press conference, showing that when Covid-19 is low in the community the risk of developing a blood clot for the under-30s increases.


At the time, the Government calculated that the risk of serious harms from the jab were around 1.1 in 100,000 for the under-30s, while the risk of an admission to intensive care was slightly lower, at 0.8 in 100,0000.


At the time, Prof Van-Tam said the benefit of the vaccine for 30 to 39-year-olds still outweighed the risks, with just 0.8 per 100,000 suffering serious harms from the vaccine compared to 2.7 in 100,000 who would be kept out of intensive care.


But the doubling of incidence rate may change that equation. Despite several requests, the MHRA was not able to say what the new risk level for the under-40s would be.

However, the latest MHRA Yellow Card data, which records reports of side effects from the vaccine, said that the events occurred in people aged 18 to 93, but with a higher incidence in younger groups.

The MHRA say the benefits still outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people, adding that although the incidence rate had increased, the number of cases remained extremely low given that over 23 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered.

Dr June Raine, the MHRA chief executive, said: “It is still vitally important that people come forward for their vaccination when invited to do so.”

However, the MHRA urged people to seek medical advice urgently if they experienced chronic headaches, particularly if accompanied by blurred vision, confusion, difficulty with speech, weakness, drowsiness or seizures.

People are also asked to look out for a rash that looks like a small bruise or bleeding under the skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling and persistent stomach pain.

On Friday, The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also said the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine were more apparent for older people.


The agency's deputy executive director Noel Wathion said: “Our interim conclusion is that overall the data showed that the benefits of vaccination increase with age, and with increasing levels of infection in the community."

Research due out next week from King’s College is expected to say that young women are suffering the most from side effects to the vaccines.

Prof Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Covid Symptom Study and professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s, said: “In general, there's lots of subtle differences in who's getting these side effects, and who's getting more protection.

“All I can say at the moment is that young females seem to be bearing the brunt of the side effects. But I must stress these are generally the very mild ones, just headaches, shivering, fatigue, for 24 hours in most cases.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/20...accine-chiefs-ponder-alternative-astrazeneca/

 

[crustyfolker]

maybe more exercise is needed. known fact ,being in hospital beds for days can cause blood clots so they usually offer you a choice of taking an injection to prevent it. excercise helps blood flow so why not see if it makes a difference.
One of my neighbours was talking about Blood clots yesterday, but he went on to mention rasclots, and bumbaclots. then i relised he was arguing with his neighbour below.

 

[Mitz]

Odds of dying from child birth: 1 in 12,500

Odds of being hit by a crashing plane whilst in your own home: 1 in 250,000

Odds of dying from vaccine caused blood clot: 1 in 1,000,000

Personally, if they're all accurate statistics then I think that puts it in to perspective quite nicely.

 

[Jd_]

Odds of dying from child birth: 1 in 12,500

Odds of being hit by a crashing plane whilst in your own home: 1 in 250,000

Odds of dying from vaccine caused blood clot: 1 in 1,000,000

Personally, if they're all accurate statistics then I think that puts it in to perspective quite nicely.

Well, they r saying now it 1 in 100, 000, which is actually getting a little high, imo.

I didnt know my chances were that high of a plane hitting my house tho, lol, i am thinking about installing some sort of roll cage or something in my bedroom

 

[andipandi]

Research due out next week from King’s College is expected to say that young women are suffering the most from side effects to the vaccines.

“All I can say at the moment is that young females seem to be bearing the brunt of the side effects. But I must stress these are generally the very mild ones, just headaches, shivering, fatigue, for 24 hours in most cases.”

Menstrual cycles, keep an eye out on that one, there's plenty of women reporting significant shifts and changes, it's a complex subject, I know this historically, via my first wife, and currently, my twin 30yo daughters.

Despite several requests, the MHRA was not able to say what the new risk level for the under-40s would be.

Odds of dying from child birth: 1 in 12,500

Odds of being hit by a crashing plane whilst in your own home: 1 in 250,000

Odds of dying from vaccine caused blood clot: 1 in 1,000,000

Personally, if they're all accurate statistics then I think that puts it in to perspective quite nicely.

It's still an added risk, no matter the stats or percentages, and i assume those odds you quote refer to the whole of the population and not the younger age demographic.

 

[MHL]

I agree with the point being made, but those stats feel a bit ropey to me.

Not necessarily wrong, but I get the impression it was put together by a media person, not a science person.

 

[Mitz]

Well, they r saying now it 1 in 100, 000, which is actually getting a little high, imo.

I didnt know my chances were that high of a plane hitting my house tho, lol, i am thinking about installing some sort of roll cage or something in my bedroom

Yeah, the chances of getting one has statistically gone up to 1 in 116000 but most people who get one survive. The odds of actually dying from it is around 1 in a mill.

Suppose just like age plays a factor in clots, living on a flight path obviously effects your chances of being struck by a plane. I was surprised just how many people drown in their own baths.

 

[Mitz]

Menstrual cycles, keep an eye out on that one, there's plenty of women reporting significant shifts and changes, it's a complex subject, I know this historically, via my first wife, and currently, my twin 30yo daughters.







It's still an added risk, no matter the stats or percentages, and i assume those odds you quote refer to the whole of the population and not the younger age demographic.

Absolutely it's an added risk but compared to the risks of covid it's really very small. Even some people with very mild disease initially are being effected for many months and even asymptomatic people are finding all kinds of issues. Infection rates are low now in the UK but only because of lock down and vaccinations. And the rest of the world ain't faring so well. With transmission rates possibly only reduced by half I know that if I was to encounter covid myself I'd like to have been vaccinated first. And I would never tell someone else to do something for the greater good that I wouldn't be prepared to do myself.

IMHO, getting everyone vaccinated initially is the most important thing. Then, boosters and anything else that comes along can be weighed up with far more room for personal choice. That's just how I see it. I know opinions vary and everybody ultimately has to decide for themselves. If anyone decides not to get vaccinated then that's their choice. There would be no finger pointing from me. But I do think people should make weighted and informed decisions.

 

[andipandi]

I was surprised just how many people drown in their own baths.

Some years ago a chap died whilst taking a bath, he decided to change the light bulb

I wonder if there's (or if there will ever be) a maximum acceptable figure for how many people can die, as a direct result of the jab, for the deaths to no longer be dismissed as collateral damage, for the better good, it's coincidental, it's unproven, there is no evidence, it's less risky than eating marmite on toast (you might choke), blah blah.

Don't worry though, the vaccine is safe...

 

[Mitz]

I agree with the point being made, but those stats feel a bit ropey to me.

Not necessarily wrong, but I get the impression it was put together by a media person, not a science person.

Maybe the 1 in 17,000 chance of dying in a car crash annually is more relevant since we all travel by car routinely. 1 in 229 in lifetime odds. THAT is shocking!

I think it's simply pointing out the odds are miniscule and just as you're extremely unlikely to die from being hit by a plane, you're also extremely unlikely to die as a result of vaccination. Your odds against covid are nowhere near as good.