Alternatives to AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s “could be considered” amid rise in blood clots

[Whichjab]

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/astrazeneca-vaccine-side-effects-blood-clots-under-40-b931498.html

This is concerning, especially as there is limited research into combining vaccinations. I feel that the trust in vaccination is being eroded. I have always been pro vacc but feeling much less so atm.
I'm not sure I will get my second jab now.

The data goes up to 21st April and last week it was 14th April. Blood clot cases have risen from 168 to 209 (89 men, 120 women) and the deaths from blood clot rose from 32 to 41. So that's 9 more deaths in 7 days.

In addition, the AZ deaths recorded (but being dismissed due to elderly/ill) has risen 58 from 627 to 685. There are now 4 cases of blood clots in 2nd dose.

Since the end of March, only about 2 million first AZ doses have been given (presumably to under 60s), and the week 14-21 April alone, 41 more clots were reported. In the absence of better numbers, if you use these to estimate the risk to younger people, it doesn't look too good.

According to this www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9520901/Health-chiefs-decide-TOMORROW-40s-alternative-AstraZenecas-Covid-jab.html the JCVI should be meeting today.

[quote Carefulvulvadriver]@Schulte hi there, where do you see the breakdown by age? I cant see it in today's report[/quote]
Hi there, it's table 4 - I can't see the page number as I'm looking at it on my phone but it's right underneath the section 'Thromo-embolic events with concurrent low platelets'.

41 more clots but 9 more deaths. That's more like 22% fatality for that weeks data.

@AppleJane

The data goes up to 21st April and last week it was 14th April. Blood clot cases have risen from 168 to 209 (89 men, 120 women) and the deaths from blood clot rose from 32 to 41. So that's 9 more deaths in 7 days.

In addition, the AZ deaths recorded (but being dismissed due to elderly/ill) has risen 58 from 627 to 685. There are now 4 cases of blood clots in 2nd dose.

Do you know if the cases are actually from that week or is the reporting sometimes delayed like Covid deaths?

Of those 41 new cases, 27 relate to women and 14 to men.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat now that is what we all want to know! Hopefully it is fresh data as they don't seem keen to add in any elderly recipients of the jab. We are doing the best with the data they are releasing but they're keeping back a few of the pieces so we can't complete the puzzle.

At @AppleJane and @Schulte - I would have thought you can’t assume all recent deaths relate to this week’s vaccines, nor can you assume all clots most recently reported actually happened after the most recent vaccinations, as if they are looking out for this, now, they could still be reporting cases now known to be that type of low platelet blood clotting, but which happened a while ago. Reactions to the most recent vaccinations will still be in the pipeline, anyway, given that they say it is 4+ days, up to 20 days later.

And we have no idea of average time lag between getting a blood clot and treatment being unsuccessful so you die from it.

Total deaths recorded via the yellow card system after AZ jab is 726.

41 blood clot deaths and 685 relating to the elderly/ill.

Sorry if this has already been posted before: this is the risk-benefit report from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The data is segregated into 10 year age bands. They show that in a low infection rate scenario (i.e. UK, NOW), for those aged 20-39 the risks from the AZ vaccine OUTWEIGH the risk from Covid (see final graphic, which compares Covid deaths prevented versus rare blood clots caused by AZ).

www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/chmp-annex/annex-vaxzevria-art53-visual-risk-contextualisation_en.pdf

@Walkaround yes I know this, which is why I only compared the total number of jabs given in the past FOUR weeks with clotting cases reported in ONE week. I totally agree that without any timelines it's not very meaningful but it's the best we can do with the data we have...

I agree @Walkaround but as the number of deaths from blood clot went up 10 in the nine days from the 5th April to the 14th April in last weeks report and it has now gone up 9 deaths in the seven days from 14th April to 21st April it doesn't look good and we need proper transparency so assuming is not needed.

The fact that someone died from a blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine does not prove a link between the two events.
You might as well say, six people died of a stroke after eating fish, therefore the fish must have caused the stroke. There needs to be a causal relationship between the vaccine and the blood clots. There must surely be other causes of blood clots.

Matt Hancock has had the AZ jab. Given by Van Tam at the Science Museum.

@Fieldofmemes - that depends on what you factor into your risk calculation. When the entire world has low rates of covid, then the risk calculation for low covid rates will definitely be useful. When there is every likelihood of rates not staying low unless all adults are vaccinated, I personally find it far too basic as a risk-benefit calculation. It’s not as if India didn’t have low rates until recently and I don’t envy anyone attempting to get vaccinated at a time of high covid infection.

I can't believe another 9 people have died. 10 the week before. Preventable deaths. Young, healthy people, probably. Why didn't the UK restrict AZ as other countries did? We had low infection rates. I am so angry.

Some people may be concerned that in the one weeks data the blood clot cases have risen from one in the 2nd jab to 4 relating to the 2nd jab.

@KarenMarlow3 NOT any old blood clot. Extremely rare catastrophic clotting and bleeding disorder now called "VITT" - Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopaenia, which carries a high risk of being fatal. It is so unusual that it had be caused by AZ because the cases occurred ONLY after AZ (NOT other vaccines and happening in several different countries where AZ was used - Norway, Germany, Iceland, Denmark, France and now here). The MHRA continue to say no causal link is established because they have to keep pushing the AZ vaccine, but it's blindingly obvious now.

@Fieldofmemes

I can't believe another 9 people have died. 10 the week before. Preventable deaths. Young, healthy people, probably. Why didn't the UK restrict AZ as other countries did? We had low infection rates. I am so angry.

The average age of 47 remains the same as last week so it will be what I consider to be young people. And as there have also been 58 more deaths relating to the elderly/ill those additional 9 deaths are likely to be healthy too.

Another two deaths in Australia after receiving the AZ vaccine. One in his 50s apparently very healthy, one is his 70s apparently healthy as well.

More and more Australians are refusing to be vaccinated with the AZ vaccine. It will slow opening up borders but the risk is not worth it for many Australians no matter what the government says.

It would be interesting to know if the deaths added to the figure today have occurred this month, or if they are updating the records since the AZ rollout started in January? Obviously doesn't change the total number but 10 a week would be a big increase especially as most people given AZ now will be under 60.

Does anyone know what happens if you refuse your second jab? Whilst I am keen to be fully vaccinated against COVID I am not so keen taking the risk of a blood clot. The risk of around 2 per 100000 for my age group just feels too high. I am early 40s and healthy. I had the usual reaction of a light flu for 1.5 days after the first jab. I am supposed to have my appointment for the second jab tomorrow and now I am agonising!!

Does anyone have any links for scientific data regarding how long immunity from the first dose of AZ lasts? I’m aware that the second dose boosts the efficiency but am struggling to find an answer regarding how long immunity from the first dose lasts. I’m not looking for any debate regarding the risks of the second dose as I’m watching the data carefully and am weighing it up for my own personal circumstances.