Under 30s to be offered alternative to AZ vaccine

[Mitz]

Under-30s are to be offered an alternative Covid jab to the AstraZeneca vaccine due to mounting evidence linking it to rare blood clots, the UK's vaccine advisory body says.

A review by the drugs regulator MHRA found by the end of March 79 people in the UK suffered rare blood clots after vaccination - 19 of whom died.

The regulator said this was not proof the jab had caused the clots.

But it said the link was getting firmer.

The regulator said the side-effects were extremely rare and the vaccine's effectiveness was proven.

It said it meant the benefits of taking the vaccine were still very favourable for the vast majority.

But they conceded it was more finely balanced for younger people because the risk from Covid was so much lower.

The review prompted the government's vaccine advisory group, the JCVI, to recommend that people aged 18 to 29 be offered an alternative vaccine where available.

People who have had their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should still get their second dose. Only those who suffered one of these rare blood clots after the first dose should not get vaccinated, the MHRA said.

People with blood disorders that leave them at risk of clotting should discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination with their doctor before going for a jab.

Nearly two-thirds of the cases of rare clots were seen in women. The people who died were aged between 18 and 79.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56665517

 

[Crispycritters]

79 have died, but compared to the millions who have had the vaccine the percentage is miniscule.

The odds of death by vaccine seem to be similar to those of death by tangerine.

 

[Mitz]

I tried listening but missed most of it as I was too distracted by his hair.

 

[Mitz]

With Moderna now available and J&J probably not too far off it's really not a big deal. There are alternatives available now for those it's deemed necessary for and it is definitely right to investigate these cases and mitigate risk as much as humanly possible. Yes, the odds of complications are relatively miniscule but every death whether from covid or a vaccine side effect is a tragedy.

 

[zouzounaki]

it seems like the sensible thing to do.

 

[andipandi]

• The MHRA is not recommending age restrictions in COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca vaccine use.
• The MHRA’s scientific review of UK reports of extremely rare and unlikely to occur specific blood clots with lowered platelets has concluded that the evidence of a link with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is stronger but more work is still needed.
• By 31 March 20.2 million doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca had been given in the UK meaning the overall risk of these blood clots is approximately 4 people in a million who receive the vaccine.
• Anyone who did not have these side effects should come forward for their second dose when invited.
• The data suggest there is a slightly higher incidence reported in the younger adult age groups and the MHRA advises that this evolving evidence should be taken into account when considering the use of the vaccine.
• The MHRA is now issuing updated guidance for healthcare professionals on how to minimise risks, as well as further advice on symptoms for vaccine recipients to look out for 4 or more days after vaccination.
• Vaccines are the best way to protect people from COVID-19 and have already saved thousands of lives. Everyone should continue to get their vaccination when asked to do so unless specifically advised otherwise.

Up to and including 31 March 2021, the MHRA had received 79 UK reports of blood clotting cases alongside low levels of platelets following the use of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca:

• 44 of the 79 cases were of CVST with thrombocytopenia
• 35 of the 79 cases were of thrombosis in other major veins with thrombocytopenia
• 79 cases occurred in 51 women and 28 men, aged from 18 to 79 years. It should be noted that more women have been vaccinated with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca than men.
• Sadly, 19 people have died out of the 79 cases – 13 females and 6 males. 11 out of the 19 people who died were under the age of 50, 3 of whom were under 30. 14 of these 19 cases were of CVST with thrombocytopenia and 5 were of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia.
• All 79 cases occurred after a first dose of the vaccine.

While the MHRA continues to investigate these cases, as a precautionary measure, anyone who has symptoms four days or more after vaccination is advised to seek prompt medical advice, such as:

• a new onset of severe or persistent headache, blurred vision, confusion or seizures
• develop shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain,
• unusual skin bruising or pinpoint round spots beyond the injection site

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...-extremely-rare-unlikely-to-occur-blood-clots
..........................................................

There have been reports of an extremely rare adverse event of concurrent thrombosis (blood clots) and thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) following vaccination with the first dose of AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222). There has been no signal for thrombosis/thrombocytopenia following receipt of other COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). Given the very low numbers of events reported overall, there is currently a high level of uncertainty in estimates of the incidence of this extremely rare adverse event by age group. However, the available data do suggest there may be a trend for increasing incidence of this adverse event with decreasing age, with a slightly higher incidence reported in the younger adult age groups. In contrast, the risks of severe disease associated with COVID-19 increases steeply with age, with the youngest adults at lowest risk. There are currently no known risk factors for this extremely rare condition, which appears to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...the-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-7-april-2021

 

[andipandi]