Despite the UK's massive vaccination success, one of the most widely used vaccinations, the AstraZeneca vaccine, has been plagued by problems. This is due to records of a very rare but dangerous illness causing blood clots and unusual bleeding after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Despite proof that the danger is vanishingly remote, many countries have paused or stopped the vaccine's introduction.
A nurse prepares an injection with a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Although this disorder is exceedingly rare, it has drawn a lot of attention to the signs and symptoms of blood clots.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA), Europe's drug enforcement authority, has assembled a list of the most common blood clot warning signs.
Patients should get medical help right away if they have any of the following signs, according to the EMA:
- Breathing problems
- Pain in the chest
- Swollen leg
- Abdominal (belly) pain that persists
- Symptoms in the nervous system, such as serious and recurring headaches or blurred vision
- Tiny blood patches under the skin that extend past the injection site.
"By recognising the signs of blood clots and low blood platelets and treating them early, healthcare professionals can help those affected in their recovery and avoid complications," advises the health body on its official website.
Blood Clots, Low Blood Platelets Linked to AstraZeneca Vaccine?
Blood clots and reduced blood platelets are common in patients who receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, The New York Times said.
Platelets are colorless blood cells that aid in the clotting process.
In principle, low blood platelets should lead to unnecessary bleeding rather than blood clots.
One possible theory is that the combination of blood clots and reduced blood platelets is an immune response, resulting in a syndrome close to one found sometimes in heparin patients.
Blood thinner heparin is used to cure and avoid blood clots.
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Officials Say There's Nothing to Worry About Blood Clots
While this disease is sporadic, patients who receive the AstraZeneca vaccine for the first time are at a higher risk.
"To date and overall, just over 10 people develop this condition for every million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine given," Public Health England (PHE) said in a document.
According to Public Health England, this occurs most often in younger people and occurs between four days and four weeks after vaccination.
It's worth noting that similar symptoms can arise spontaneously, and clotting issues are a frequent side effect of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
Other COVID-19 vaccines have not been linked to an elevated risk in the UK.
The Medicines and Healthcare Goods Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) all recommend that you get some of the available COVID-19 vaccines.
The advantages of vaccines in shielding you from the severe effects of COVID-19 are widely agreed to overshadow any chance of this very uncommon disease.
In the present scenario, the JCVI recommends that individuals between the ages of 30 and 39 get a vaccine other than AstraZeneca's.
Since the chance of COVID-19 contamination is too low, it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AstraZeneca's.
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