AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine probe over blood clot case

Australia’s medicine regulator has launched an investigation into a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a 44 year old man who was hospitalized with blood clot days after receiving the vaccine.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Michael Kidd, said in a televised briefing raising concern in a nation where most people are expected to receive the drug maker’s shot.

“One case of this clotting disorder has been recorded in Australia overnight and we are taking this very seriously.

“It is currently being investigated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and a meeting will be held tomorrow of the TGA vaccine safety investigation group, which will examine this report and determine whether it could be linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine,” he said.

However, he maintained that there was still no confirmed link between the vaccine and the blood clotting.

“Investigators have not at this time confirmed a causal link with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine but investigations are ongoing,” Kidd added.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said the AstraZeneca vaccine was not tied to an increase in overall risk of blood clots.

Australia launched mass vaccinations for its 25 million people in February, with most expected to receive the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

It has been highly successful in curbing the virus with snap lockdowns, border closures and swift tracking, reporting just under 29,300 infections and 909 deaths.

Vaccination supplies in the northeastern state of Queensland will end within days, adding that they are uncertain about the next delivery.

Kamila/Reuters