May I ask a question about blood clots?

[SugarHouse1]

Hello, I’ve been living in Australia where they are only giving Astra Zeneca to people over 60 years of age, due to the risk of blood clots.

I am due to get my second vaccine tomorrow and it will be AZ and I’m scared 😟. I’m not usually scared by these things and I’m definitely not anti-vaccine, but my relatives have put the fear of God into me.

So does anybody know what the symptoms are of these rare blood clots and, if you get them, is there a cure?

Thanks.

I’m 40 and have had both AZ jabs. They will tell you what to look out for in the very unlikely event of getting a blood clot
Even if it does happen you have a good chance of getting it treated before the worst happens if you act fast
The main things are a very bad headache that is worse when lying down or bending over
Blurred vision
Very bad stomach pain
Leg pain / swelling
A pinprick like rash / bruising beyond the site of the injection
I think they are the main ones
It’s very unlikely though, the benefits definitely out weigh the risks!

Realitea is spot on with the things to look out for. Any of the above symptoms within 42 days of having it need to be investigated, though the risk starts to reduce after 14 to 21 days and any clots after 28 days are unusual. I completely understand your worry as I’m in my 30s and had my second two weeks ago. I cancelled my second dose a couple of times because I was watching the data very carefully re second doses. Fortunately the risk with second doses seems to be much smaller than with first doses. I believe it’s about 1.4 per million, possibly about 2 per million allowing for the time lag. Wishing you all the best with it.

Re cures now the condition is recognised there is a very clear treatment protocol which has improved outcomes and survival. The fatality rate in the U.K. is 17 percent but this includes early cases in the figures from a point where the condition wasn’t known about and there was no tried and tested treatment protocol.

People really ought to be aware of blood clot symptoms anyway, and seek medical help if they get those symptoms regardless of vaccination or not. It's fairly shocking how few do know, but explains why blood clots have a high risk of death.

OP - there have been many hundreds if not thousands of threads on this. If you think you have special risk factors then speak to a GP. It's your choice whether to be vaccinated or not, but if you choose not to get vaccinated, then please be aware that your risk of getting covid ultimately is very high, Australia will not stay closed forever.

My mum had a pulmonary embolism after her first jab. Her symptoms were lower limb swelling and breathlessness. She was treated in hospital with blood thinners and is now completely fine. So absolutely can be treated.

Breathlessness is the other symptom to look out for.

I had a pulmonary embolism (not related to the vaccine) years ago, chest pain and breathlessness were my two main symptoms. The usual treatment for blood clots in the UK is blood thinning medication for an extended period of time.

As you say this is your second vaccine (I'm assuming you had AZ the first time), and you presumably didn't have one with the first vaccine I would guess your risk of getting on this time is probably quite low.

Thanks everyone, I had the second jab earlier today. I’m hoping the side effects aren’t as bad this time.