19 blood clot deaths in UK after AstraZeneca jab, new advisory issued | 5 points

The MHRA’s scientific review has concluded that the evidence of a link with AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine is stronger but more work is still needed.

The UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on Wednesday advised offering an alternative to AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to adults under 30s amid concerns over blood clot link. The advisory came soon after the EU’s drug regulator announced that the reported cases of blood clotting should be listed as a possible side effect of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine.

A member of the the medical staff prepares a syringe with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. (AP)

"We are not advising a stop to any vaccination for any individual in any age group. We are advising a preference for one vaccine over another vaccine for a particular age group, really out of the utmost caution, rather than because we have any serious safety concerns," Wei Shen Lim, Covid-19 Chair for JCVI, said at a briefing.

At least 79 cases of blood clots alongside low levels of platelets were reported in Britain as of March 31, according to the latest data released by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Out of 79 cases, 44 were of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), a type of blood clot in the brain. The MHRA said that 19 people have died, which includes 13 females and 6 males.

“No effective medicine or vaccine is without risk. We continually monitor safety during widespread use of any vaccine. This is to ensure vaccines are performing as expected, to identify any new side effects that may arise, and to ensure the benefits continue to outweigh the risks,” Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive, said at the briefing.

Key points of MHRA’s new advisory related to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine:

1. The MHRA’s scientific review has concluded that the evidence of a link with AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine is stronger but more work is still needed.
2. The regulator said that the overall risk of these blood clots is approximately 4 people in a million who receive the vaccine.
3. Citing the latest data, the MHRA suggested that there is a slightly higher incidence reported in the younger adult age groups.
4. It advised that the evolving evidence should be taken into account when considering the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
5. It has urged everyone who did not have these side effects to come forward for their second dose when invited.