Deaths reported due to J&J vaccine and new research resurfaced linking AstraZeneca to Strokes in Young Adults, fueling the general public skepticism of COVID vaccines.
A large part of the population all over the world has been apprehensive of the COVID vaccines that started rolling out last year to combat the spread of the widespread pandemic. The conspiracy theorists and fear mongers duly added fire to such fears and apprehensions. However, the recent incidents have left scientists puzzled and rendered the public skeptical of the COVID vaccines more than anything.
Pregnant woman dies after receiving the J&J vaccine. Plus several Deaths were reported, from different parts of the world, following the administration of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and AstraZeneca vaccine; mainly due to blood clotting.
Plus new research has resurfaced that reports the occurrence of strokes in young adults after they received AstraZeneca vaccine shots. The research was conducted by reputable institutions like Oxford University etc.
Belgium suspends the administration of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine for the second time
A Belgian woman died after she received the J&J vaccine earlier this week; possibly from blood clots. It was reported that the woman was under the age of 40 and was suffering from severe thrombosis and platelet deficiency when she was admitted to the hospital.
As a result, the Belgium Health Ministry temporarily suspended the use of the J&J vaccine for people who are under the age of 41. Shockingly enough this is not the first time the Belgium administration had to suspend the notorious J&J vaccine since it has been causing problems previously too. Moreover, the statement released by Belgium’s Federal health ministry has made it clear that the use of the vaccine has only been suspended temporarily.
“The Inter-ministerial conference has decided to temporarily administer Janssen’s vaccine to the general population from the age of 41 years, pending a more detailed benefit-risk analysis by the EMA” said the statement issued by Health Minister.
The Belgian government is currently consulting with the European Medicine Agency (EMA) as well as the Union drug’s regulator. Both organizations are looking into the matter thoroughly. The EMA said that it is investigating the death of the woman and some other reported deaths due to blood clots following the vaccination. Plus EMA has also urged the J&J to investigate the cause behind the shocking deaths caused by blood clotting and find the link between the vaccine shot and blood clots.
The vaccine usage has been suspended and studies are being carried out to find the reason behind blood clots. But the Belgium woman was not the first one to be affected by the blood clot side-effect and likely will not be last.
Just a few months ago; the use of the J&J vaccine was discontinued by several countries, including Belgium, because of blood clot side effects. But The Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) only declared that the vaccine label should come with an added warning for the rare blood clot side effects.
Later on 23 April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resumed the administration of the J&J vaccine concluding that although the link between blood clots and the vaccine is plausible; the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks. From then on till now, several countries have been using J&J to vaccinate both young and old people all over the world.
Recent research links strokes in young adults to AstraZeneca Vaccine
New research and data have resurfaced that link strokes and other heart complications in young adults to AstraZeneca Vaccine. A letter published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, initially, highlighted the relation between large-vessel arterial occlusion strokes in young adults to the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Now recently three people, in their 30s/40s, developed the vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after being vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The VITT presents as CVST (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) which is the stroke caused by venous thrombosis. However, it can also cause stroke induced by arterial thrombosis.
“These are the first detailed reports of arterial stroke believed to be caused by VITT after the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, although stroke has been mentioned previously in the VITT data,” Dr. David Werring, professor of clinical neurology at the Stroke Research Centre, told the Medscape Medical News.
Nevertheless, these reports do not represent the overall vaccine risk since they are only describing three cases. Furthermore, Dr. Werring did add that while VITT is a serious health risk still the benefit of the vaccine outweighs its risks.
A man in Ontario dies from a rare blood clot after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine
Public Health officials declared that an Ontario man, in his 40s, died after receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca. The cause of his death is yet to be confirmed but he did suffer did had VITT when he died.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams, considering the higher risk of blood clots side effects, has restricted the administration of AstraZeneca as of May 11 for those people who have not received their first dose yet.
Four people die of Blood clots in Greece after getting AstraZeneca shot; investigation underway:
In total 4 people have died of blood clotting and VITT after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine as reported by the Greek Reporter and Greek City Times.
Despite all the reported cases, the stance of EMA and other drug regulators remains the same, as of now, i.e. that use of AstraZeneca should not be restricted but the product itself should come with a warning against rare blood clotting.
At the end of the day, young adults should take precautions themselves and immediately contact a medical professional if they present with symptoms of stroke after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Author: Mehak Sohail
