AstraZeneca vaccine age restrictions has ended reports of rare clots
pharmafile | August 12, 2021 | News story | |
After the UK’s decision to restrict the use of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in under 40s there have been no new cases of rare blood clots, as reported in Reuters.
Vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) is a combination of blot clots and low platelet levels which has been labelled as a rare side effect of the viral vector COVID vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Around 85% of those who suffered rare blood clots after vaccination with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot in Britain were under 60.
This is despite the fact that more of the shots that had been administered were to the elderly.
Additionally, Scientists in the UK have identified the markers associated with the rare blood clots, this discovery could help treat the condition more effectively and increase survival chances.
Dur Sue Pavord of Oxford University Hospitals led a team of experts, who have now set out guidance for clinicians which can help diagnose what they call vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (Vitt).
Dr Pavord, who is a Consultant Haematologist at OUH, said: “Our study shows that for those who develop Vitt, it can be devastating: it often affects young, otherwise healthy vaccine recipients and has high mortality.
“It is particularly dangerous when the patient has a low platelet count and bleeding in the brain.
“Vitt is a very new syndrome, and we are still working out what the most effective treatment is, but identifying prognostic markers has helped to determine what is the more effective way to manage the condition.
“We haven’t seen new cases for the last four weeks or so and this has been a tremendous relief.”
Lilly Subbotin
