Researchers from the UK have discovered that a blood clot syndrome following the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination is extremely rare. It can also occur in healthy individuals who are otherwise healthy.Data suggests that blood clots are more common in those under 50 than in those who have had the vaccine.Researchers studied the symptoms, signs, and outcomes of 220 probable and confirmed cases that presented at UK hospitals between 22/03/ and 6/06.It is important to emphasize that this type of reaction to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination is rare, according to Dr Sue Pavord (consultant haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) and the lead author of the analysis published by the New England Journal of Medicine.She added that blood clots can cause severe complications for some people. This condition is often fatal for young and healthy recipients of vaccines. This is especially dangerous if the patient has low platelet counts and brain bleeding.It can affect anyone, said Beverley Hunt (medical director of Thrombosis United Kingdom and professor of thrombosis/hemostasis at Kings College London).Hunt stated that 50% of the patients in the analysis were healthy and had not suffered from any previous illnesses. Hunt also said there was no evidence of any individual risk factors.Researchers discovered that vaccine-induced immune tuberculocytopenia (VITT), which is a syndrome that causes immune thrombocytopenia, and thrombosis in children, caused 23% of all cases. They said that patients suffering from a low platelet count or brain bleeding due to blood clots in their brains are at greater risk.VITT is similar in appearance to the condition that can be seen in patients who have been treated with heparin to thin their blood, but seems more severe than we are used to, stated Pavord.VITT was defined by five criteria: symptoms that appear between 5 and 30 days after vaccination; low platelet count; documented presence of blood clots; and onset of symptoms within the first 5 to 30 day.There have been a few cases of rare blood clotting side effects after BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine. However, these cases, according to the VITT definition, appear to be associated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.We've been open to new ideas, stated Dr Catherine Bagot (consultant haematologist at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and senior clinical lecturer at University of Glasgow). None of the confirmed cases or probable cases have been met by the Pfizer vaccine.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that people below 40 years old be offered an alternative vaccine to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. This recommendation was made after several reports of rare blood clots following first shots of vaccine.The 220 probable VITT cases included in the analysis had an average age of 48 years. Around 85% of the cases were younger than 60 years, despite the fact that most of the older population had been vaccinated.Pavord stated that this does not mean that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccination should not be administered to those under 60.A high level of Covid means more people will be infected, in critical care and, if they are over 60, even death. It makes sense to distribute Oxford/AstraZeneca in such cases. She said that an age limit is appropriate for those with a lower incidence of Covid.It is important to see the larger picture. The risk of Covid in older people is higher.
