{"id":40613,"date":"2021-06-01T07:24:06","date_gmt":"2021-06-01T07:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/?p=40613"},"modified":"2021-06-01T08:49:40","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T08:49:40","slug":"uk-recommends-alternative-to-oxford-az-vaccine-for-people-younger-than-40-due-to-242-reports-of-rare-blood-clots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/40613","title":{"rendered":"Oxford\/AZ vaccine linked to 242 rare bloods clots in the UK: alternative recommended for people younger than 40"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Simon Collins, HIV i-Base<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On 7 May 2021 the UK Government recommended that adults aged under 40 years old should preferably use alternatives to the Oxford\/AZ vaccine against COVID-19. [1]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This was based on a risk:safety analysis by the UK MHRA linked to rare complications of serious blood clots and age. Detailed information on these and other side effects were included in a detailed safety report. [2]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This was based on a risk:safety analysis by the UK MHRA linked to rare complications of serious blood clots and age. Detailed information on these and other side effects were included in a detailed MHRA safety report. [2]<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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By 28 April 2021, the UK Yellow Card Scheme had received 54139 cards for Pfizer, 160543 for Oxford\/AZ, 683 for Moderna and 574 where the vaccine make was not specified. For the two most widely used vaccines, Pfizer and Oxford\/AZ, there were approximately 3 to 6 cards per 1000 doses.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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These reports included 242 cases of major thromboembolic events (blood clots) with concurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) following the Oxford\/AZ vaccine, of which 49 were fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This was after approximately 22.6 million first doses and 5.9 million second doses.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Demographics included 141 cases in women (32 fatal) and 100 in men (17 fatal). Age of cases ranged from 18 to 93 with number of reports\/fatalities by age: 18\u201339 (55\/14), 40\u201359 (106\/22), 60\u201379 (61\/12), 80\u201399 (6\/1) and unknown (14\/0). Six fatalities were after the second dose.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was reported in 93 cases (average age 47 years) and 149 had other major thromboembolic events (average age 55 years) with concurrent thrombocytopenia.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The reports also includes all deaths following all recent vaccinations, evaluating likely cause as many of these were in older people with complex comorbidities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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comment<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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Official comments focused these serious reactions being very rare events. Also, that on a population level the risks are lower than those of having a serious outcomes in the event of COVID-19.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This missed the point, from a community perspective, that many of these individuals could have continued to avoid SARA-CoV-2 through continued isolation and other safety measures \u2013 and that they engaged in the vaccine programme for personal and community prevention.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The new advice includes circumstances when the risks from COVID-19 are higher in some people under 40 where using the Oxford\/AZ is still recommended, especially if supply issues limit access to alternatives.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Anyone who experiences any of the following symptoms four days after vaccination is recommended to promptly seek medical advice.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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