AstraZeneca Covid vaccine linked to 41 deaths, new stats show – that’s a tiny 0.00018% chance of dying

THE CHANCE of developing a deadly blood clot from the AstraZeneca Covid jab is just 0.00018 per cent, new figures reveal.

Around 22 million Brits have received a dose of the AstraZeneca jab and of that, 41 have died following a rare blood clot.

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The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published its latest findings today, stating that up to April 21 there had been 209 Yellow Card reports of cases of major thromboembolic events (blood clots) with concurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts) in the UK.

These cases occurred after patients received a dose of the AstraZeneca jab.

But with just over 33.9million people already having their first Covid vaccine, and 13.5million their second, the risks are very small.

The MHRA uses "yellow card" reporting in order to track side effects in patients who have had the jab.

It stated that of the 209 cases, 120 occured in women and 89 occurred in men from ages 18-93, with the overall case fatality rate at 19 per cent - with 41 deaths.

It comes as:

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The MHRA has reported more cases and deaths in women compared to men.

But experts have said this appears to be due to the way the vaccines were rolled out, as opposed to a genuine higher risk in women.

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chairman of the Commission on Human Medicines, told the Science and Technology Committee this week told MPs that women were "at no greater risk" of blood clots from the jab than their male counterparts.

Last week it was reported that the jab was linked to 32 deaths with a 0.00015 per cent of dying after having the jab.

This has gone up slightly this week - but could equate for a lag in data and the fact more jabs have now been dosed out.

This week, just four cases of these serious blood clots had been reported after a second dose of the jab.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was reported in 84 cases and 123 had other major thromboembolic events.

It was previously stated that under-30s be offered different shots as a "course correction" after the MHRA found a "reasonably plausible link".

The JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation), says the jab is "safe and effective" but that people under the age of 30 could be offered an alternative vaccine.

This, it said was a "precautionary measure" after a number of people experienced blood clots.

On April 7, when JCVI announced this measure, there were just 79 cases and 19 deaths after 20 million doses were given. At that point the risk of dying from the jab was 0.000095 per cent and it found that three of the deaths were people under 30.

Side effects can occur with all medications and vaccines and this is no different for coronavirus vaccines.

Most people will not have any side effects after their jab, but those who do have reported pain at the site of injection, flu-like symptoms and fatigue.

The MHRA previously said that if you have a headache for up to four days after having your jab then you should seek medical advice.

The handful of cases among millions of people who have had the jab makes the risk extremely small - smaller than the benefits of the jab, experts say.

But because blood clots can be fatal, it’s worth knowing the symptoms just in case.

The UK's medicine regulator, the MHRA, says you should seek medical advice if you have had any of these symptoms four days or more after vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine:

• a new onset of severe or persistent headache
• blurred vision
• confusion
• seizures
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• leg swelling
• persistent abdominal pain
• unusual skin bruising or pinpoint round spots beyond the injection site

These symptoms may have been related to the AstraZeneca vaccine if they were within 28 days of the shot.

There are currently three vaccines being rolled out across the UK; the AstraZeneca offering, the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna jabs.

The MHRA is consistently reviewing vaccine safety as and when data comes in and it said the "advice remains that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks in the majority of people".