‘Fit and healthy’ man, 27, died after being given the wrong Covid jab in grave ‘hospital admin error’
A "FIT and healthy" man who died from a blood clot was given the wrong Covid jab due to a hospital error, a new report has revealed.
Jack Last, 27, an engineer from Stowmarket, Suffolk was given the Oxford AstraZeneca jab after hospital records incorrectly listed him as living at home with his "at risk" parents.
The engineer, who was "surprised" to be offered the jab, was admitted to hospital on April 9, 2021 suffering from headaches.
Tragically, he died on April 20 from a blood clot on the brain - three weeks after receiving his first dose of the vaccine.
Jack received the jab on March 30 - days before the UK's medicine regulator advised under-30s should be offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Brits aged 18 to 29 will now be given the option of having a different jab such as Pfizer or Moderna.
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Jack first started feeling ill on April 5 and he contacted 111 on April 9.
The young engineer was later told by a clinical adviser to visit West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
A CT scan was performed on Jack by an out-of-hours service outsourced to a separate company.
The radiologist reported on the CT scan that there were no acute abnormalities in his brain.
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This was later found to be inaccurate.
The report also found that his death was the consequence of "system shortcomings, human error, and tragic unfortunate timing".
The report said: "It would also have been advisable to send Jack straight away to another hospital or centre that could provide the CT venogram he needed, rather than waiting until the next day."
A CT venogram was performed the following day and demonstrated a blood clot, delaying treatment by 15 hours.
The report concluded while this delay was unlikely to have changed the outcome for Mr Last, it was still a missed opportunity.
When his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
Just a week after Jack got the jab government health advisers urged people under 30 to seek an alternative vaccination due to an increased risk of fatal brain blood clots.
A new report released by Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board found that Jack was only given the jab as he was wrongly identified as living with his parents despite moving into his own home in 2018.
His medical record had the same landline number as his parents despite updating his contact details.
His parents met the criteria for an at-risk age group.
It was also found that Jack was contacted at the time due to a previous mention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on one of his parents' GP records.
A family statement said it was "heartbreaking" to learn of the errors which led to him being invited to receive the vaccination early.
One day before Mr Last received his text on March 20, it was agreed to expand the criteria of those eligible for the vaccine to those living with cohort 6 eligible patients.
Searches were carried out by matching individuals to landline numbers and Jack was invited because he was listed as "co-habiting" with his parents.
Medical Director of the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, Dr Andrew Kelso, said: "Our thoughts remain with the family of Jack and have been throughout this very tragic case.
"On behalf of all system partners, we are truly sorry for what has happened and for the loss, heartbreak and distress they must be experiencing.
"Due to the seriousness of what happened, we immediately commissioned an independent review to fully understand what led to this tragedy and to identify learning.
"We also wanted to give the family all the answers to their questions.
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"This independent review allowed the system to look at the incident from beginning to end, without the restrictions of organisational boundaries and without prejudice."
An inquest into Jack's death in 2022 ruled that he had died as a "direct result" of the vaccination.
Covid jab eligibility
COVID-19 vaccination is an important part of protecting yourself if you're at increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
The COVID-19 vaccines are offered because viruses change and protection fades over time. It's important to top up your protection if you're eligible.
You may be offered a COVID-19 vaccine if you:
- Are aged 65 or over
- Are pregnant
- Are aged 6 months to 64 years and have an increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 because of a health condition or treatment
- Live in a care home for older adults
Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine
The most common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine are mild and get better within a week.
They can include:
- A sore arm from the injection
- Feeling tired
- A headache
- Feeling achy
- Mild flu-like symptoms
If you or your child get side effects, rest and take paracetamol or paracetamol for children to help you feel better.
Contact NHS 111 if:
You or your child have had a COVID-19 vaccine and:
- Have symptoms that are getting worse
- You're worried about your or your child's symptoms
- You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
You or your child have any of these symptoms within a few days of being vaccinated:
- Chest pain or feeling of tightness in the chest
- Severe difficulty breathing – you're gasping, choking or not able to get words out
- A fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart (palpitations)
For more Covid-19 information, visit
