Third rare vaccine clot under investigation

Another case of a rare blood clot following a COVID-19 vaccine is under investigation by the Ministry of Health.

RISHARD KHAN
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Another case of a rare blood clot following a COVID-19 vaccine is under investigation by the Ministry of Health.

Guardian Media understands the case was recently brought to their attention—within the past 48 hours.

Two such cases of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) are on record in the country as occurring within the past month.

All cases, including this one, received the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. VITT is associated with the jab along with the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Despite this known side effect, health experts globally assure that the benefits of receiving the jab outweigh the rare risk.

It is considered a rare but serious side effect. For the Oxford-AstraZeneca dose currently being used locally and in 177 other countries, it is estimated to occur only four times out of every million.

On Tuesday, June 22, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram confirmed that the second case of VITT was recorded in the country. However, he then assured that there were no vaccine-related deaths in the country. Guardian Media Limited was unable to reach Dr Parasram for comment on this case.

Last week, the Ministry of Health’s Epidemiology Division’s Technical Director, Dr Avery Hinds, commented on the incidence of the condition. He noted that it is a random occurrence which means these rare cases can pop up at any point during the vaccination process.

“[It] doesn’t mean that you have to count to a million before you get four. You can get the four early and then get no more. You can get none until the last four. It is a random occurrence,” Hinds said.

Symptoms of VITT includes generally severe or persistent headaches, blurred vision, shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, severe abdominal pain, increased bleeding which may show as bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site, and nausea and vomiting.

He assured the ministry was monitoring the condition’s occurrence and would evaluate any country-specific risks.