AstraZeneca finds no evidence of increased blood clot risk from vaccine

[webfact]

AstraZeneca finds no evidence of increased blood clot risk from vaccine

FILE PHOTO: Vials labelled "AstraZeneca COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine" and a syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken March 10, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc said on Sunday a review of safety data of people vaccinated with its COVID-19 vaccine has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots.

AstraZeneca's review, which covered more than 17 million people vaccinated in the United Kingdom and European Union, comes after health authorities in some countries suspended the use of its vaccine over clotting issues.

"A careful review of all available safety data of more than 17 million people vaccinated in the European Union and UK with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca has shown no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or thrombocytopenia, in any defined age group, gender, batch or in any particular country," the company said.

Authorities in Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have suspended the use of the vaccine over clotting issues, while Austria stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots last week while investigating a death from coagulation disorders.

European Medicines Agency has said there is no indication that the events were caused by the vaccination, a view that was echoed by the World Health Organisation on Friday.

The drugmaker said, 15 events of deep vein thrombosis and 22 events of pulmonary embolism have been reported so far, which is similar across other licensed COVID-19 vaccines.

The company said additional testing has and is being conducted by the company and the European health authorities and none of the re-tests have shown cause for concern. The monthly safety report will be made public on the EMA website in the following week, AstraZeneca said.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, has been authorised for use in the European Union and many countries but not yet by U.S. regulators.

The company is preparing to file for U.S. emergency use authorisation and is expecting data from its U.S. Phase III trial to be available in the coming weeks.

(Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar and Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru, Editing by Jane Merriman)

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-15

 

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[ukrules]

I saw some figures showing that the number of blood clot related incidents in the population who had the Pfizer vaccine is higher than the AZ vaccine.

Yet the Pfizer vaccine remains in use....why is that?

It's almost as if it's a political thing, the blood clot issue simply doesn't exist, the number of blood clots are comparable and some report lower in the vaccinated populations compared to the non vaccinated.

To simplify this - people get blood clots regardless of vaccination status and some of them die, not nice but nothing to do with the vaccine, regardless of which vaccine is used.

Edited March 14, 2021 by ukrules

[Crossy]

In my jaded mind there's no doubt whatever it's political. 

No problem, if some countries don't want the Az vaccine then there's more for those who do.

[sungod]

24 minutes ago, Crossy said:

In my jaded mind there's no doubt whatever it's political. 

No problem, if some countries don't want the Az vaccine then there's more for those who do.

Being the cheapest on the market must weigh in on that......

[VocalNeal]

If there is any irony in this? AZ makes an anti clotting drug.

[Scott]

When vaccinations are started with the most vulnerable groups and the elderly,  deaths will occur.   A review of the data is always warranted.  

All these vaccines have short-circuited the normal testing and have been put on the market sooner rather than later.  

 

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

AstraZeneca finds no evidence of increased blood clot risk from vaccine

let all those other thai balkers stand aside and let me near the front of the line

[Jeffr2]

13 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

let all those other thai balkers stand aside and let me near the front of the line

It was never proven before the announcement.  Just suspected.  Turns out everything is fine.

Yes, put me at the front of the line also!!

Great news.

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

To simplify this - people get blood clots regardless of vaccination status and some of them die, not nice but nothing to do with the vaccine, regardless of which vaccine is used.

Have to agree with you there.

I had a blood clot in 2008 and suffered a heart attack, been counting my lucky stars ever since, and life goes on.

We are a delicate low, present company included, suffice to say when it's time to get the jab for me, it's either take my take my chances with COVID or take my medicine and hope for the best as has been the case with all previous vaccinations, and I prefer the the latter, as for which vaccine I will take will depend on more data by the time the vaccines make it to the private hospitals here, J & J so far is my first choice, but will take any of the others if at the time it's not available, because something will be better than nothing.

The old saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away, was replaced for me when I had my event, it's now an Aspirin a day and a few other lollies keeps the doctor away.

[LomSak27]

23 minutes ago, sungod said:

48 minutes ago, Crossy said:

In my jaded mind there's no doubt whatever it's political. 

No problem, if some countries don't want the Az vaccine then there's more for those who do.

Being the cheapest on the market must weigh in on that.....

First three posts; ' It's a conspiracy against Astrazeneca'. Say what you like we live in the new age of conspiracy theories from anti vaxxers to pro vaxxers. 

Grow up. 

[polpott]

1 minute ago, LomSak27 said:

First three posts; ' It's a conspiracy against Astrazeneca'. Say what you like we live in the new age of conspiracy theories from anti vaxxers to pro vaxxers. 

Grow up. 

Pro vaxxers rely on data. Anti vaxxers rely on rhetoric. There's a difference. The data shows that there are no issues with the AZ vaccine. Must be a big disappointment to anti vaxxers.

[LomSak27]

12 hours ago, polpott said:

Pro vaxxers rely on data. Anti vaxxers rely on rhetoric. There's a difference. The data shows that there are no issues with the AZ vaccine. Must be a big disappointment to anti vaxxers.

Ah, deflections where would we be without them. Good one, but not what I was posting about. Where is the conspiracy in why Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the use of AZ. Need some facts here not just hot air.

Take your time,  I've got all hot season.

[polpott]

12 hours ago, LomSak27 said:

Ah, deflections where would we be without them. Good one, but not what I was posting about. Where is the conspiracy in why Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the use of AZ. Need some facts here not just hot air.

Take your time,  I've got all hot season.

All of those countries had zero data to support their claim, which has proved to be spurious. Europe is peed with AZ due to them not being promoted to the front of the queue, and started unwarranted claims about the vaccine. What did AZ do? Put Europe to the back of the queue again. Som nam na.

The arrogance of slating a product with no justification then begging for that self same product.

[rasmus5150]

The 60 year old lady that died in Denmark after getting the AZ vaccine did not die from a regular "normal" blood clot.

The autopsy revealed she had a very low number of blood "platelets" (not sure about the spelling), she had several clots in both small and big arteries, and also internal bleeding.

I am not saying that this is caused by the vaccine, but that is the reason why Denmark has temporarily stopped the AZ vaccines for 2 weeks.

I am pro-vaxxer and will always prefer the AZ vaccine compared to none at all. But I believe the Danish Government is doing the right thing, to make sure that everything is up to safety standard....

[polpott]

3 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

I am pro-vaxxer and will always prefer the AZ vaccine compared to none at all. But I believe the Danish Government is doing the right thing, to make sure that everything is up to safety standard....

Whilst their citizens continue to die from Covid. 3 dead yesterday and 613 new cases, a significant increase.

[rasmus5150]

3 minutes ago, polpott said:

Whilst their citizens continue to die from Covid. 3 dead yesterday and 613 new cases, a significant increase.

Actually the numbers in Denmark is decreasing.

And personally I think it's better that the scientists eliminate all possible doubts that we don't put healthy lives in danger by injecting the vaccine.

I'm sure that the relatives of the 3 people that died yesterday will disagree - and probably also you polpott

[herfiehandbag]

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

In my jaded mind there's no doubt whatever it's political. 

No problem, if some countries don't want the Az vaccine then there's more for those who do.

I too am minded that it is political. However I also suspect that perhaps at least part of the aim is to but the boot into the UK vaccination plan which has been somewhat more dynamic and effective than that of some others...

The "Island Monkeys" are not supposed to be able to manage this sort of thing on their own!

Edited March 15, 2021 by herfiehandbag

[Tug]

Happy to hear it appears to be an over abundance of caution on the part of the country’s that put a hold on it another tool to defeat this scourge stay safe all good health!!!

[polpott]

4 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

Actually the numbers in Denmark is decreasing.

Check the stats. Increasing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=covid+latest+denmark&oq=covid+latest+denmark&aqs=chrome..69i57.11759j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[JoePai]

I find it fascinating the way the Russians have managed to spread this rumour of blood clots via fake news

[rasmus5150]

9 minutes ago, polpott said:

Check the stats. Increasing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=covid+latest+denmark&oq=covid+latest+denmark&aqs=chrome..69i57.11759j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Come on.... It's like minimal changes. It's not like there's a third wave coming.

The Danish Government has also relaxed their restrictions significantly, and downgraded all Regions to level 4 - 5 being the highest on their scale (except Copenhagen that stays on 5).

I'm just happy that we are making 100% sure, so we don't end up having a disaster like the MMR Vaccine Controversy in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.

[polpott]

13 minutes ago, rasmus5150 said:

I'm just happy that we are making 100% sure, so we don't end up having a disaster like the MMR Vaccine Controversy in the United Kingdom in the 1990s.

The disaster was caused by anti vaxxers spreading fake news. Doctor Andrew Wakefield published his research in the Lancet claiming a link between MMR and autism. Later shown to be based on false data and completely untrue. He was prosecuted and debarred from practicing medicine. However, the damage was done, particularly amongst ethnic minorities. A legacy we are still seeing today with the Covid vaccine. Anti vaxxers and spreaders of fake news can be dangerous and cost many lives.

Edited March 15, 2021 by polpott

[rasmus5150]

3 minutes ago, polpott said:

The disaster was anti vaxxers spreading fake news. Doctor published research in the Lancet claiming a link between MMR and autism. Later shown to be based on false data. He was prosecuted and debarred from practicing medicine. However, the damage was done, particularly amongst ethnic minorities. A legacy we are still seeing today with the Covid vaccine. Anti vaxxers and spreaders of fake news can be dangerous and cost many lives.

OK then - you're right, that was a horrible example.

Then let's make sure we don't get another Thalidomide Birth Defects Scandal, like in Germany.

What I'm trying to say is that, better safe than sorry.

And unfortunately people will die of Covid while we are making sure we are being safe with the vaccine injections.

And I must repeat that I'm Pro-vaccine

[polpott]

Just now, rasmus5150 said:

Then let's make sure we don't get another Thalidomide Birth Defects Scandal, like in Germany.

Thalidomide wasn't a vaccine and the failure was using it for a purpose that it wasn't intended for without reasearch. Not comparable to Covid vaccines. Thalidomide is still used today in the treatment of certain cancers.

The research hasn't been done on administering Covid vaccines to pregnant women therefore it isn't done. My son in law and daughter are both frontline health workers in the UK. My daughter has not received the vaccine because she is pregnant. Her husband has had both doses.

They both contracted Covid in October and she recently was tested for antibodies. She is positive and is likely to be immune. Likely that her baby will carry the antibodies too, when its born.

[sungod]

1 hour ago, LomSak27 said:

Need some facts here not just hot air.

There are no hard facts on the suspension, that's the whole point.

Duh......

[paulbrow]

5 hours ago, Crossy said:

In my jaded mind there's no doubt whatever it's political. 

No problem, if some countries don't want the Az vaccine then there's more for those who do.

Very true except for when you're in one of the countries banning it leaving only the Chinese vaccine as an option.

[Jeffr2]

5 minutes ago, paulbrow said:

Very true except for when you're in one of the countries banning it leaving only the Chinese vaccine as an option.

The only option for now.  That will change shortly.

[JonnyF]

The super effective and inexpensive AZ vaccine seems to be being attacked by many countries that have spent billions developing their own less effective vaccines.

Can't imagine why...

[Jeffr2]

16 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The super effective and inexpensive AZ vaccine seems to be being attacked by many countries that have spent billions developing their own less effective vaccines.

Can't imagine why...

Makes sense.  They invested in them, are first up to get the jabs, etc.  Why wait in line for another jab when you've got a homegrown one ready to go? 

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Makes sense.  They invested in them, are first up to get the jabs, etc.  Why wait in line for another jab when you've got a homegrown one ready to go? 

That wasnt the point.

The point was that if your vaccine is so good and ready to go, why would you need to discredit another vaccine using unsubstantiated data.

Sounds like the Oxford/AZ vaccine has a lot of companies feeling insecure. Even Macron was rubbishing it a few weeks ago.

Politics interfering with saving lives. Sad stuff.