Covid-19 UK: What should I do if I’ve had the AstraZeneca jab?

By | April 8, 2021

Is it safe for me to get my second dose of AstraZeneca’s jab? What if I had blood clot symptoms first time round? Can I get mix-and-match to get Pfizer’s instead? What are the alternatives for under-30s? And what are the tell-tale symptoms of blood clots?

Britons were once again left with a raft of questions over the safety of AstraZeneca‘s coronavirus vaccine after health chiefs today recommended it should not be given to under-30s because of its link to potentially deadly blood clots.

No10’s jab advisory panel says healthy people aged 18 to 29 be offered either Pfizer or Moderna‘s vaccine instead, when the programme moves to younger groups in the coming months.

The Government, opposition politicians and medical experts tonight rushed to shore up confidence in AstraZeneca’s vaccine, insisting that it was safe and the benefits far outweighed any risks for the vast majority.  

Here MailOnline answers all of your questions about AstraZeneca’s jab, revealing why it is safe for you to still get your second dose and what the alternatives are for under-30s. 

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke. SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system

WHAT HAS HAPPENED? 

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that healthy adults aged 18-29 are offered an alternative vaccine to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, if available.

The recommendation follows a review by the UK’s medicines regulator, the MHRA, which found there was a ‘strong possibility’ that very rare blood clots, known as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST), could be caused by the vaccine.

Dr June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, yesterday said the possible side effect was ‘extremely rare’, while the balance of benefits from having the jab are ‘still very favourable for the majority of people’. However, for healthy younger adults, for which the risk from coronavirus is far lower, it is more ‘finely balanced’.

SHOULD I STILL GET MY SECOND ASTRAZENECA JAB?

Anyone who has already had their first dose of AstraZeneca’s jab, regardless of their age, was today urged to still attend their second appointment as planned. 

Scientific trials have shown the British-made jab works better after two doses, with the UK’s current campaign based on dishing out top-ups after 12 weeks. 

The JCVI’s advice only applies to healthy under-30s — who should not yet have been invited for vaccines. 

But health bosses said NHS workers, carers and family members of vulnerable adults who are under-30 and have yet to get jabbed should also be offered an alternative vaccine. 

Regulators insisted the benefits of the jab — which has been repeatedly been proven to save lives and stop people falling severely ill with coronavirus — clearly outweigh the very small risk for everyone else.

Addressing the fears today, Boris Johnson said it was ‘very important for everybody to continue to get their top-up jab when you’re asked to come forward for your turn’.

WHAT IF I HAD TELL-TALE SYMPTOMS OF A CLOT THE FIRST TIME ROUND?

Brits who suffered flu-like symptoms after getting the first jab — which are common side effects of any vaccine — do not need to worry, experts say. 

Instead, only people who were actually diagnosed with a blood clot after getting the first dose should hold off on getting their booster shot. 

In its guidance today, the JCVI said the clots ‘appear to be an idiosyncratic reaction on first exposure’ to AstraZeneca’s vaccine.

There have been no recorded blood clots after a second dose – all 79 thrombocytopenia have been after first doses. 

Professor Adam Finn, a member of the JCVI, said: ‘We’ve not seen a single case of thrombosis after a second dose of AZ so far. So there is no evidence of a problem after the second dose. 

‘At the moment we would be voyaging into an evidence-free zone if we recommend people do not have a second dose. The evidence is there’s no risk we have found — but that may change.’ 

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CAN I ‘MIX AND MATCH’ AND GET A SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA IF I HAD AN ASTRAZENECA JAB FIRST?

Drug regulators have yet to approve a mix-and-match policy for jabs, meaning Brits must get the same vaccine twice.

Britain’s scientists are already looking at whether mixing and matching coronavirus vaccines is safe and can enhance protection against the disease. 

Experts believe the ‘mix and match’ approach could stimulate different parts of the immune system and give better, longer lasting immunity.

The tactic could also help Britain deal with supply shortages which has held back the UK’s otherwise successful vaccination rollout. 

CAN I CHOSE WHAT VACCINE I GET

No.

People under-30 will be offered an alternative vaccine, but they can still chose to have AstraZeneca.

WHAT OTHER JABS ARE AVAILABLE FOR UNDER-30S? 

More than 20million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have now been given in the UK, with the jab used as the main weapon in the UK’s arsenal.

The roll-out is unlikely to move on to under-30s for several months, meaning that supplies of the other jabs could be saved for younger adults.

Moderna’s jab was deployed in Britain for the first time today, with ministers having bought 17million doses — enough for 8.5million people. 

The chief scientist behind the US-developed Novavax vaccine, which Britain has secured 60million doses of, has said he expects it to be given the green light this month and rolled out in May.

A separate vaccine made by American pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, which uses the same type of technology as AstraZeneca’s but is administered via a single injection, is slated for a summer rollout. No10 has bought 30million doses.

The UK has also ordered 40million Pfizer doses, enough for 20million people, but the majority of the country’s remaining stocks are reserved for second doses.    

But, given that AstraZeneca’s vaccine is the main driver of the campaign, the roll-out could be slowed if the UK’s change of heart on giving the jab to young adults knocks public confidence in 30-50 year olds. 

England's deputy chief medical officer Profess Jonathan Van-Tam said the new advice marked a 'course correction' for the UK's rollout - and reiterated that for the vast majority of people the 'benefits outweigh the risks'

England’s deputy chief medical officer Profess Jonathan Van-Tam said the new advice marked a ‘course correction’ for the UK’s rollout – and reiterated that for the vast majority of people the ‘benefits outweigh the risks’

The Government wheeled out a series of graphs comparing the risk of falling ill with Covid compared to the threat of developing blood clots after getting the AZ vaccine in various age groups. In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself

The Government wheeled out a series of graphs comparing the risk of falling ill with Covid compared to the threat of developing blood clots after getting the AZ vaccine in various age groups. In low Covid levels, every 100,000 vaccines prevents 0.8 ICU admissions from coronavirus in people under 30 but 1.1 people will suffer blood clotting after having the jab, making the threat higher than the virus itself

When coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease

When coronavirus is prevalent in society, 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines prevent 127.7 Covid ICU admissions among 60 to 69-year-olds. For 20 to 29-year-olds, every 100,000 vaccine administered stops seven people in that age group from being admitted to intensive care with the disease

 

WHAT ARE THE BLOOD CLOTS LINKED TO ASTRAZENECA’S JAB? 

European health chiefs today ruled that AstraZeneca’s Covid jab should come with a warning that, in very rare cases, it may cause potentially deadly blood clots.

The EMA, which polices the safety of drugs used on the continent, spotted 169 cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVST) and 53 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), from 34million jabs. 

CVST occurs when a vein that drains blood from the brain is blocked by a clot. It can lead to a stroke.

SVT is the same type of blood clot but it occurs in the digestive system.

Both the EMA and their UK counterparts said the clots had occurred alongside thrombocytopenia — low levels of blood platelets. 

WHAT SYMPTOMS DO THE CLOTS CAUSE?

The EMA said symptoms of the two blood clots included:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Swelling of leg
  • Persistent stomach pain
  • Severe headache
  • Blurred vision
  • Skin bruising beyond the site of injection

IS THERE ANY PROOF THE JAB CAUSES THE BLOOD CLOTS?

Scientists have repeatedly insisted there is no proof that AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine causes the blood clots.

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But officials are still investigating the link and can’t rule it out completely.

Although there isn’t any evidence that clots are developing because of vaccinations, some academics have a theory that it is the immune reaction making it happen.

Research teams in Germany and Norway claim the blood clotting issue may be caused by the jab, in very rare cases, making the body attack its own platelets.

Platelets are tiny chunks of cells inside blood that the body uses to build clots to stop bleeding when someone is injured. But they can also make unwanted clots.

Experts from Oslo and Greifswald University believe the jab could cause the body to produce antibodies – normally used to fight off viruses – which mistake platelets in the blood for foreign invaders and attack them.

To compensate, the body then overproduces platelets to replace those that are being attacked, causing the blood to thicken and raising the risk of clotting. 

The researchers say the phenomenon is similar to one that can occur in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), when sufferers take a drug called heparin. 

HOW OFTEN ARE THE CLOTS OCCURRING? 

Figures presented by the EMA today — which took into account data up until April 4 — suggested the clots occur once in every 150,000 jabs. They also said most of the cases were in women under 60.

The MHRA, which plays the same role in the UK, found 79 cases of clots in 20million doses by the end of March. Officials said the risk was around one in every 250,000 doses.  

They also insisted the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people — but that the ratio was more ‘finely balanced’ in younger people, who are slightly more prone to blood clots. 

LBC claimed that the MHRA revealed the baseline rate of CVST was between five and 16 cases per million people each year. The MHRA has spotted 44 cases of that blood clot — a rate of two cases per million people every three months.

EMA chiefs said that clots occurred more often than expected, prompting them to say the jabs need to come with the warning that it is a rare side effect. 

But it said the committee investigating the link did not conclude that age and gender were clear risk factors for the very rare side effects. 

ARE THERE MORE CASES OF CVST THAN EXPECTED?

The normal background rate of these clots is uncertain with estimates ranging between two and 16 cases per million people occurring naturally a year. While still incredibly rare, the incidents of these clots among patients who have had the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab are slightly higher than they should be.

What exactly is CVST and should I be worried?

CVST is where potentially fatal clots form in the veins that run from the brain. Unusually, this is occurring with thrombocytopenia – abnormally low levels of blood cells called platelets. Platelets cause blood to clot, so while not unheard of, it is incredibly rare for people with low levels to develop clots. The most severe signs of CVST include stroke-like symptoms such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body, seizures, coma and ultimately death.

But anyone who has suffered headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, abdominal pain and bruising or pinpoint spots below the vaccination site for four days after a jab should seek medical attention. 

IF THE JAB IS TO BLAME, WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES?

If the jab is to blame, what are the possible causes?

Scientists are exploring several possibilities. European investigators have put forward one theory that the vaccine triggers an unusual antibody in some rare cases, similar to conditions seen in patients treated with the anticoagulant – commonly known as blood thinner – heparin. The autoimmune disorder called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) leads to plummeting platelet counts and clotting.

Others are looking at whether the cases – which seem more common in women – are linked to birth control pills. However, at the moment scientists say there is no definitive evidence.

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HAVE THESE CLOTS BEEN LINKED TO ANY OTHER VACCINES? 

No cases of CVST with low platelets have been linked to the Pfizer vaccine in the UK, with just two serious clots reported more widely. Experts suggest this could be to do with the technology in mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, compared to those using adenoviruses, for example, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Trials of the latter have shown possible clots, although scientists stressed they were incredibly rare with three reported cases in 4.5million jabs administered.

So far, only the Oxford jab has been linked to possible raised levels of clotting. All vaccines will continue to be monitored.

HOW COULD THE JAB BE CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS? 

One plausible explanation for how the AstraZeneca vaccine could cause clots is that it provokes an immune response that leads to a condition that seems similar to atypical heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. 

European regulator the EMA said data showed the blood clots reported had been found in veins in both the brain and abdomen, and occurred alongside low levels of blood platelets and sometimes bleeding. 

During a simultaneous briefing in the UK by the MHRA and JCVI, Sir Munir Pirmohamed said: ‘The early evidence suggests that this constellation of symptoms is caused by an immune response against platelets which allows the platelets to then lead to clotting in different parts of the body.

‘But what we don’t have clearly is the link between the vaccine and how the immune response becomes activated against the platelets.’

Research teams in Germany and Norway claim the blood clotting issue may be caused by the jab, in very rare cases, making the body attack its own platelets.

Platelets are tiny chunks of cells inside blood that the body uses to build clots to stop bleeding when someone is injured. But they can also make unwanted clots.

Experts from Oslo and Greifswald University believe the jab could cause the body to produce antibodies – normally used to fight off viruses – which mistake platelets in the blood for foreign invaders and attack them.

To compensate, the body then overproduces platelets to replace those that are being attacked, causing the blood to thicken and raising the risk of clotting. 

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY RESTRICTED THE JAB TO OLDER PEOPLE?

Germany last week temporarily banned the AstraZeneca vaccine for under-60s, while France took the same controversial move for under-55s.

Iceland has restricted it to over-70s, while Finland, Sweden and Lithuania all say it can only be given to adults over the age of 65.

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Latvia have all suspended the jab completely, while regulators probe the link further.

But the EMA refused to back any of the nations in their age-restricted roll-outs. Last week it publicly said there was no evidence to justify sweeping bans for younger people. 

IF I’M PREGNANT, SHOULD I GET THE VACCINE? 

The advice on this has not changed, meaning it’s recommended that those who are pregnant should not be vaccinated, with some exceptions. This is because the vaccines have not yet been tested in pregnancy.

While there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine would harm the baby, pregnancy is more likely to lead to thrombosis.

Therefore women should discuss with their healthcare professional whether the benefits of having the vaccine outweigh the risks for them.

I’M 29. WHAT IF THEY ONLY OFFER THE OXFORD VACCINE? 

Officials say this will not happen unless you have an underlying medical condition and are prioritised. In such instances, they say the benefit of having the vaccine far outweighs any issues as you have an equivalent risk from coronavirus as 65 to 70-year-olds. For healthy under-30s, officials are confident there are sufficient supplies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines coming on stream to vaccinate all 10million 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK. 

I’VE HEARD ASPIRIN CAN STOP BLOOD CLOTTING. SHOULD I TAKE IT BEFORE THE JAB? 

No. The risks of an adverse clotting event are extremely low. Taking aspirin or anti-coagulants can increase the risk of bleeding and is not

 

 


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