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Seek medical help for headache or severe bruising 4 days after Covid jab amid blood clot probe
BRITS suffering a headache up to four days after receiving a coronavirus vaccine should seek medical help, experts warned today.
The MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) advised that Brits experiencing severe bruising after the jab should also seek help as it could be a sign of a rare blood clot.
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Speaking at a Downing Street press conference tonight Dr June Raine said people with these symptoms needed to seek medical advice.
She said that there has been five reports of cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (CSVT).
She said, they had occurred shortly after vaccination with the AstraZeneca jab.
Dr Raine added: “This type of blood clot can rarely occur naturally in unvaccinated people as well as in people with Covid-19."
She said: "A causal relationship with the vaccine has not yet been established and that the rate of occurance of these CSVT events among the 11 million vaccinated is extremly rare."
Dr Raine said that while the MHRA continued to investigate reports of blood clots, as a precautionary measure it would advise "anyone with a headache that lasts more than four days after vaccination or bruising beyond the site of vaccination after a few days to seek medical attention".
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She added that the group would communicate further on the outcome of this further review when it is completed.
This afternoon Dr Phil Bryan, MHRA vaccine safety lead, said there was less than “one in a million” chance of suffering this type of clot, based roughly on the fact that there had been at least 11 million AZ vaccines given in the UK.
Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the expert working group of the Independent Commission on Human Medicines, said the risk of dying from Covid in those in their 40s was one in 1,000.
And there was a possibility the blood clots could have been caused by Covid itself.
It comes as it was revealed this afternoon that just five people in the UK had reported a specific brain blood clot after having the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
The European Medicines Agency today confirmed the vaccine was safe for use after 20 countries suspended the use of the jab amid blood clot fears.
Emer Cooke, the EMA's executive director, said she would take the Covid vaccine "tomorrow" if offered - after debating on its safety for days.
She said: "Its benefits in protecting people from Covid-19, with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation, outweigh the possible risks.
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"The committee also concluded that the vaccine is not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events, or blood clots."
More than a dozen EU nations have halted its use over unsubstantiated fears it may trigger blood clots.
Mrs Cooke added: "We are very much aware that some member states have paused vaccinations, waiting for EMA's outcome of a review.
"Given that thousands of people in the EU die every day - in fact over 2,500 were reported one day last week - it really was crucial for EMA to review rapidly and thoroughly all the available evidence, so we made this review our highest priority."
"We are delivering on that promise today and our responsibility is to come to a conclusion as to whether the benefits outweigh the risks of the vaccines so that countries can make an uniformed decision and increase trust int eh vaccine."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson this evening reassured Brits that jab is safe and he would be taking it tomorrow.
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So far in the UK 25.7 million Brits have received a first dose of either the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab or the Pfixer/BioNTech offering with 1.8 million having had a second dose.
Mr Johnson promised that despite some issues with supply, the NHS was still on track to deliver a dose to every adult by the end of July as planned.
All second doses would be given, and there would be more doses available than in February, he claimed.
He also stressed that there was "no change to the next steps of the roadmap" and Britain would continue to unlock if the data continued to go in the right direction.
The PM added: "Our progress along the road to freedom continues, unchecked.
"We remain on track to reclaim the things we love, to see our families and friends again, to return to our local pubs, our gyms, our sports facilities and of course, our shops."
This afternoon the European Medicines Agency gave the green light to the jabs continuing - despite several states pausing the rollout over fears it could lead to blood clots.
EU regulators said again today that it is safe and there was no need to stop jabbing.
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The PM said tonight: "They've confirmed that the benefits of the vaccine in preventing Covid far outweigh any risks.
"The Oxford jab is safe, the Pfizer jab is safe, the thing that isn’t safe is catching covid.
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"I'm getting mine tomorrow.
"Get that jab when your turn comes. Let's get the jab done."
Boris Johnson says there is no change to next steps of roadmap despite fewer Covid jabs coming in April
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