Scientists claim they know how AstraZeneca Covid vaccine can cause ultra-rare blood clots
SCIENTISTS believe they have uncovered why a small number of people who have recently had the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine have suffered blood clots.
A handful of the millions of people who have received the vaccine in Europe have experienced the extremely rare complication.
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While it is still uncertain whether this was directly caused by the vaccine, scientists in Europe say they may have an explanation.
Two studies, in Germany and Norway, claim the shot may cause the body to activate its own platelets - blood cells which form clots to stop bleeding.
This causes the blood to thicken, leading to potentially deadly clots.
Noweigan professor Pål Andre Holme claimed this was the “most likely” cause.
But independent scientists said the theory is based on the "weakest evidence", and gave no further answers.
Millions of people across the world have had the AstraZeneca vaccine - developed by Oxford University - without any complications.
Regulators have stressed that the benefits of the jab, to prevent Covid deaths, far outweigh any potential risks.
European regulators say there is no overall increased risk of blood clots in people who get the shot, or that from Pfizer.
But it is unclear whether a very small number of brain blood clots - including five in the UK, one of whom died - were the result of the jab.
The condition, called CVST, occurred with low blood platelets and is an extremely rare combination of events.
It’s so rare, UK regulators at the MHRA said they did not know how often it happens in the general population.
While investigations continue, people have been urged to accept their vaccine offer when it comes.
If anyone experiences headaches or severe bruising after their jab, they should seek medical help immediately, experts have warned.
ACTIVATED BLOOD CELLS
The , led by the University of Greifswald, looked at nine patients in Germany and Austria who had some form of blood clotting after one AZ shot, seven of whom had a blood clot.
“Our theory that this is a powerful immune response which most likely was caused by the vaccine has been found.”
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca said: “Patient safety remains AstraZeneca’s highest priority and the Company has robust processes in place for the collection, analysis and reporting of adverse events and these are shared with regulatory authorities around the world.”
Norway and Denmark have not resumed use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, despite other EU nations making a U-turn.
After The European Medicines Agency concluded on March 19 that the jab is safe, France, Italy and Germany resumed jabbing amid a bungled vaccine programme.
More than a dozen EU nations had halted its use over unsubstantiated fears it may trigger blood clots after what leaders admitted was a political decision.
UK regulators stood firm in their confidence of the jab, and said “people should still go and get their Covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so”.
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The MHRA said in a statement on March 18 that a detailed review into five males with CVST and lowered blood platelets is ongoing.
“This has been reported in less than 1 in a million people vaccinated so far in the UK, and can also occur naturally – a causal association with the vaccine has not been established.”