This post brings you up-to-date with what is happening regarding the suspension of the AstraZeneca Vaccine due to Blood Clots.
Update 18 March, 2021 – The European Medicines Agency said today the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID vaccine “may be associated with very rare cases of blood clots,” but the vaccine is “safe and effective” and countries should continue to use it.
Further down this page I also give an insight into what Blood Clots are and what are the reported Blood Clots so far in the UK Government Yellow Card Adverse Vaccine Events Reports.
Also, I have written many posts on the Ethics, Morality & Efficacy of the AstaZeneca Vaccine. Looking at the vast array of Adverse Events being experienced by many, is it any wonder that so many countries around the world have at this moment suspended the use of AstraZeneca pending investigation.
Here are some of my latest posts for your reference.
Chimpanzee Virus, GMO’s & Aborted Foetal Cells
Compendium of Global Adverse Events & Serious Injury
Adverse Events from Around the World – UK and also Australia
AstraZeneca Suspension
Over the last week (to March 16, 2021) AstraZeneca has been suspended in many countries over reports of blood clots post vaccination.
There have been many cases of Blood Clot experiences after the AstraZenenca Vaccine, in particular – Austria reported serious adverse effects in two cases, including a 49-year-old nurse who died of severe blood coagulation 10 days after receiving the shot. And a 60-year-old woman in Denmark also died after developing a blood clot, and there are also reports of a death and three hospitalisations relating to blood clots in Norway.
Here are a few selected links to recent articles discussing the suspension to help bring you up to date (including response for the US, that haven’t as yet approved AstraZeneca).
March 15, 2021
Germany, Italy, France and Spain suspend AstraZeneca vaccine rollout amid blood clot concerns
The European Union’s four largest nations have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after reports in some European countries of serious side effects in recipients. Germany, Italy and France announced they would be pausing their rollout of the vaccine pending an assessment from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is meeting on Thursday, March 18. Spain suspended the use of the vaccine for at least two weeks. Cyprus and Slovenia also announced they would be putting use of the vaccine on hold until after the EMA meeting. France has suspended but hoped could resume “if the EMA gives the green light”. Denmark and Norway stopped giving the shot last week after reporting isolated cases of bleeding, blood clots and a low platelet count. Iceland and Bulgaria followed suit before Ireland and the Netherlands announced suspensions on Sunday. Austria and Spain have stopped using particular batches and prosecutors in the northern Italian region of Piedmont earlier seized 393,600 doses following the death of a man hours after he was vaccinated. Piedmont was the second Italian region to do so after Sicily, where two people died shortly after having their shots.
March 15, 2021
Ireland halts use of AstraZeneca vaccine
Ireland temporarily suspended the use of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday following a report from Norway of patients developing blood clots post inoculation. The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Saturday said there were four new cases of serious blood clotting in adults after taking the vaccine.
March 13, 2021
Biden Rebuffs EU, AstraZeneca and Says U.S. Will Keep Its Doses
The US is holding on to its stockpile of AstraZeneca PLC vaccines, even though the shot isn’t authorized for U.S. use, top aides said Friday — rebuffing pressure from Europe and the company to consider sharing doses of the shot.
March 12, 2021
Thailand delays vaccine rollout over blood clot fears
Thailand has delayed the rollout of the AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine over reports of blood clots
March 12, 2021
9 European Nations Suspend Experimental AstraZeneca COVID Vaccines Due to Fatal Blood Clots
See Article – Denmark, Austria, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Iceland and Italy have all reportedly stopped their plans to use the AstraZeneca vaccine.
March 12, 2021
Italy bans AstraZeneca batch following two deaths in Sicily
Italian health authorities have ordered the withdrawal of a batch of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine following the deaths of two men in Sicily who had recently been inoculated – Stefano Paterno, a 43-year-old navy officer, and Davide Villa, a 50-year-old policeman, who had both received shots from AstraZeneca’s ABV2856 batch.
March 12, 2021
Denmark, Norway, Iceland suspend AstraZeneca COVID shots after blood clot reports
Health authorities in Denmark, Norway and Iceland say they have temporarily suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine after reports of the formation of blood clots in some who have been vaccinated.Austria earlier stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots while investigating a death from coagulation disorders and an illness from a pulmonary embolism.Still, the European medicine regulator EMA said the vaccine’s benefits outweighed its risks and could continue to be administered.
Australia’s Response
In light of the growing number of European Countries suspending the vaccine whilst it undergoes investigation, Australia has decided to continue on with the stabs.
March 16, 2021
AstraZeneca keeps backing of Australian politicians and health advisors despite blood clot concerns
Australian health advisors and the government remain committed to the rollout of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, despite safety concerns overseas and on the backbench. Australia raises Questions over AstraZeneca vaccine as Europe pauses roll out over safety concerns. Australia’s Chief Medical Officer says that AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rollout will not be paused over clot concerns.
March 16, 2021
Growing call for Australia to suspend AstraZeneca Vaccine
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been urged to pause the rollout of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine over blood clot concerns. Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has called on the government to suspend the vaccine program, following the lead of France, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Iceland. And MP Craig Kelly’s push to suspend AstraZeneca vaccine rollout in Australia
The WHO Response
You can read more about the Ethics of the WHO here. Read a little about why countries are suspending AstraZeneca here.
In light of the growing concern around the world, the WHO has reacted by trying to swiftly squash the growing fear. I believe the statements made by the WHO aren’t entirely factual in light of the published evidence to the contrary (see next heading: Adverse Events – UK Reporting).
* WHO says AstraZeneca shot is ‘excellent vaccine’
* Says no death linked to any COVID-19 vaccine so far
The WHO has come out and said that: “As of today, there is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine and it is important that vaccination campaigns continue so that we can save lives and stem severe disease from the virus,” WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.
Blood Clots – What are they?
Blood clots are blood that has become solid inside a vein. This can happen when:
- the blood starts to clot more easily (for example, when you’re ill)
- there are changes to the wall of the vein (for example, if you sit still for a long time)
- there are changes in how the blood flows
Blood clots can form in veins anywhere in the body, including in the small veins under your skin or in the veins deep inside your body. The medical name for a blood clot is a ‘venous thrombo-embolism’. Your blood naturally clots so you don’t bleed out if you are injured. Blood clotting becomes a problem when it stops your blood from flowing properly. Blood clots can be fatal if they aren’t treated. They can lead to a stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolism. If you think you may have a blood clot, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Per HealthDirect.gov.au, these are the different types of Blood Clots and Ischaemic conditions:
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): A DVT develops when a blood clot forms in one of the veins deep inside your body. They mostly occur in the legs, but you can get a DVT anywhere in your body. The most common symptom is pain and swelling in the affected area, usually your calf or thigh. However, sometimes there are no symptoms.
Blood clot in the brain: A blood clot in the brain is called a stroke. The symptoms of a stroke include weakness or drooping in the face, arm or leg, difficulty speaking or understanding, dizziness, blurred vision, severe headache and difficulty swallowing. If you or someone else experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance.
Blood clot in the heart: A blood clot in the heart leads to a heart attack. The symptoms of a heart attack can include chest pain (as though your chest is being pressed or squeezed by a heavy object), shortness of breath, feeling weak and light-headed, nausea, a cold sweat, and feeling anxious. If you have any of these symptoms, or if they get worse quickly or last longer than 10 minutes, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Blood clot in the lungs: If the blood clot travels to your lungs, it’s called a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood, sweating, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy and clammy skin. A major pulmonary embolism can be fatal. If you think you may have a pulmonary embolism, go to the nearest emergency department or call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Blood clot in the leg or arm: The most common signs of a blood clot are swelling, tenderness, redness and a warm feeling around the area of the clot. It’s more likely to be a clot if you have these symptoms in just one arm or leg.
Blood clot in the stomach: Symptoms include severe pain and swelling.
Blood Clots & UK Adverse Events
According to the UK Govt Yellow Card Reporting System, and as reposted on my UK Adverse Events page, as at the 28 February 2021, this is a list of Adverse Reported Events from the AstraZeneca Vaccine. Keeping in mind that the reporting of Adverse Events is voluntary. And if the study conducted in the USA is anything to go by (relating to US Government Reporting systems), the system maybe broken with less than 1% of Adverse Events being reported.
ASTRAZENECA
4 Jan 2021 to 28 Feb 2021
TOTAL Adverse Reactions – 201622
Total Deaths – 275
Spontaneous Abortions (Miscarriages) – 4
Blood Disorders – 1098
Cardiac Disorders – 1922
Ear Disorders – 1217
Eye Disorders – 2150
GastroIntestinal Disorders – 22336
Immune Disorders & Infections – 4401
Nervous System Disorders – 43951
Psychiatric Disorders – 3554
Reproductive & Breast Disorders – 297
Respiratory Disorders – 5323
Skin Disorders – 10507
Vascular Disorders – 1635
Looking more deeply at the above data, attached below are screenshots from the 4 Jan 2021 to 28 Feb 2021 UK Report. These relate to reported blood clotting, thrombotic, ischaemic events (note that Cardiac Arrest may not always be due to blood clot).
The first column is the number of TOTAL Reported Events, and the second column is the REPORTED DEATHS from the blood clotting related event.
It should also be noted that whilst the Vaccine may not have been a direct causative agent in all of these Adverse Reactions or Deaths, pre-existing conditions may render some people more susceptible to Adverse Events – which is WHY Vaccines should never be made mandatory AND why fully informed consent is essential.
