Last Tuesday I posted this as a reply to a question raised by member @saw1993. It doesn't seem to be read by anyone including probably the original poster or bumped.
It was about a recent paper published by a researcher in Germany who seems to have found a link with the reported blood clotting of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. The essentials of the paper is as follows with my comments below, recopied FYI.
"Methods. We summarized the clinical and laboratory features of 9 patients in Germany and Austria who developed thrombosis and thrombocytopenia events following AZD1222 vaccination. Serum from four patients was used to test for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies, both by immunoassay and by platelet activation assays performed in the presence of heparin, PF4, or both.
Results. The 9 patients (8 female; median age, 36 [range, 22—49) presented with thrombosis beginning 4 to 16 days post-vaccination: 7 patients had cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), 1 had pulmonary embolism, and 1 had splanchnic vein thrombosis and CVT; 4 patients died. None had received heparin prior to symptom onset. All four patients tested strongly positive for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies by immunoassay; all 4 patients tested strongly positive in the platelet activation assay in the presence of PF4 independently of heparin. Platelet activation was inhibited by high concentrations of heparin, Fc receptor-blocking monoclonal antibody, and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Conclusions. The AZD1222 vaccine is associated with development of a prothrombotic disorder that clinically resembles heparin-induced thrombocytopenia but which shows a different serological profile.
PS: The above is NOT to scare people away from the Oxford or any other vaccine. Every vaccine has some side effects with a small number of people.
As of now Globally 673,509,296 people have been vaccinated including 167,187,795 (USA), 139,970,000 (China), 80,261,503 (EU), 79,105,163 (India), 37,013,740 (UK)... etc - But deaths due to vaccines (either directly or suspected) are nothing compared with the doses given.
2,873,556 people lost their lives due to Covid (This will be more if you add the real death count in China) So don't worry about the vaccine.
So as you said there's no argument about the vaccine. Until someone develops a new anti-viral against the Covid virus nobody has an alternate choice."
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Since then there has been new developments and the EMA (The European Medicines Agency) issued a statement a few days ago, indicating that the blood clotting should be listed as a rare side-effect of the Oxford vaccine.
They have informed that....
"EMA is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.
People who have received the vaccine should seek medical assistance immediately if they develop symptoms of this combination of blood clots and low blood platelets (see below).
The PRAC (EMA's Safety Committee) noted that the blood clots occurred in veins in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVST) and the abdomen (splanchnic vein thrombosis) and in arteries, together with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding.
The Committee carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis reported in the EU drug safety database (EudraVigilance) as of 22 March 2021, 18 of which were fatal.1 The cases came mainly from spontaneous reporting systems of the EEA and the UK, where around 25 million people had received the vaccine."
Information for the general public
As of 4 April 2021, a total of 169 cases of CVST and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis were reported to EudraVigilance. Around 34 million people had been vaccinated in the EEA and UK by this date. The more recent data do not change the PRAC’s recommendations.
After this news several other countries have taken steps to list Pfizer or the Moderna as the preferred vaccine below the 50's age group.
PS: The ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’ (TTS) is a newly described serious condition, with unusual blood clots in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or in other parts of the body, associated with low platelet levels. Some researchers have provisionally called this condition ‘vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia’ (VIPIT). However, the causal relationship and exact mechanism leading to this condition is not yet understood. Some people have antibodies which activate platelets (anti-PF4 antibodies). These antibodies have been detected in another disorder triggered by the drug heparin, which has a similar presentation.
PPS: Note - There is a very low incidence of this side-effect but many are taking it seriously with the lower 50 year age group. Nobody knows the reason why it affects this group more.
As a comparison the usual birth control pill carries a higher risk of blood clotting than this vaccine. Also clotting could happen without any of these reasons as external triggers.
It was about a recent paper published by a researcher in Germany who seems to have found a link with the reported blood clotting of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. The essentials of the paper is as follows with my comments below, recopied FYI.
"Methods. We summarized the clinical and laboratory features of 9 patients in Germany and Austria who developed thrombosis and thrombocytopenia events following AZD1222 vaccination. Serum from four patients was used to test for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies, both by immunoassay and by platelet activation assays performed in the presence of heparin, PF4, or both.
Results. The 9 patients (8 female; median age, 36 [range, 22—49) presented with thrombosis beginning 4 to 16 days post-vaccination: 7 patients had cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), 1 had pulmonary embolism, and 1 had splanchnic vein thrombosis and CVT; 4 patients died. None had received heparin prior to symptom onset. All four patients tested strongly positive for anti-PF4/heparin antibodies by immunoassay; all 4 patients tested strongly positive in the platelet activation assay in the presence of PF4 independently of heparin. Platelet activation was inhibited by high concentrations of heparin, Fc receptor-blocking monoclonal antibody, and intravenous immunoglobulin.
Conclusions. The AZD1222 vaccine is associated with development of a prothrombotic disorder that clinically resembles heparin-induced thrombocytopenia but which shows a different serological profile.
PS: The above is NOT to scare people away from the Oxford or any other vaccine. Every vaccine has some side effects with a small number of people.
As of now Globally 673,509,296 people have been vaccinated including 167,187,795 (USA), 139,970,000 (China), 80,261,503 (EU), 79,105,163 (India), 37,013,740 (UK)... etc - But deaths due to vaccines (either directly or suspected) are nothing compared with the doses given.
2,873,556 people lost their lives due to Covid (This will be more if you add the real death count in China) So don't worry about the vaccine.
So as you said there's no argument about the vaccine. Until someone develops a new anti-viral against the Covid virus nobody has an alternate choice."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since then there has been new developments and the EMA (The European Medicines Agency) issued a statement a few days ago, indicating that the blood clotting should be listed as a rare side-effect of the Oxford vaccine.
They have informed that....
"EMA is reminding healthcare professionals and people receiving the vaccine to remain aware of the possibility of very rare cases of blood clots combined with low levels of blood platelets occurring within 2 weeks of vaccination. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within 2 weeks of vaccination. Based on the currently available evidence, specific risk factors have not been confirmed.
People who have received the vaccine should seek medical assistance immediately if they develop symptoms of this combination of blood clots and low blood platelets (see below).
The PRAC (EMA's Safety Committee) noted that the blood clots occurred in veins in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, CVST) and the abdomen (splanchnic vein thrombosis) and in arteries, together with low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding.
The Committee carried out an in-depth review of 62 cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis reported in the EU drug safety database (EudraVigilance) as of 22 March 2021, 18 of which were fatal.1 The cases came mainly from spontaneous reporting systems of the EEA and the UK, where around 25 million people had received the vaccine."
Information for the general public
- Cases of unusual blood clots with low platelets have occurred in people who received the Astra-Zeneca vaccine
- The chance of having this occur is very low, but you should still be aware of symptoms so you can get prompt medical treatment to help recovery and avoid complications.
- You must seek urgent medical attention immediately if you have any of the following symptoms in the weeks after your injection:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- leg swelling
- persistent abdominal (belly) pain
- neurological symptoms, such as severe and persistent headaches or blurred vision
- tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.
- Speak to your healthcare professional or contact your relevant national health authorities if you have any questions about the roll out of the vaccine in your country.
As of 4 April 2021, a total of 169 cases of CVST and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis were reported to EudraVigilance. Around 34 million people had been vaccinated in the EEA and UK by this date. The more recent data do not change the PRAC’s recommendations.
After this news several other countries have taken steps to list Pfizer or the Moderna as the preferred vaccine below the 50's age group.
PS: The ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’ (TTS) is a newly described serious condition, with unusual blood clots in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or in other parts of the body, associated with low platelet levels. Some researchers have provisionally called this condition ‘vaccine induced prothrombotic immune thrombocytopenia’ (VIPIT). However, the causal relationship and exact mechanism leading to this condition is not yet understood. Some people have antibodies which activate platelets (anti-PF4 antibodies). These antibodies have been detected in another disorder triggered by the drug heparin, which has a similar presentation.
PPS: Note - There is a very low incidence of this side-effect but many are taking it seriously with the lower 50 year age group. Nobody knows the reason why it affects this group more.
As a comparison the usual birth control pill carries a higher risk of blood clotting than this vaccine. Also clotting could happen without any of these reasons as external triggers.
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