AstraZeneca: about the possible side effect that caused the suspension of vaccination

SCases of “sinus vein thrombosis” in the brain that have occurred in Germany led to the temporary suspension of Covid-19 vaccines with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Six women and one man were affected, three of whom have died so far. Other individual cases occurred in other European countries, so far three in Britain, while the vast majority of the millions of vaccinated people worldwide did not experience serious side effects. “For most people there is no risk,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said Monday.

However, since scientists cannot rule out a connection to vaccination, the federal government decided, on the recommendation of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, to temporarily stop vaccination, until the connections have been investigated and verified in more detail. The Ministry of Health declared it with a duty of care: “Doctors who vaccinate first must be informed and the vaccinated themselves must be informed about possible side effects.” The state is legally bound to all citizens. Damages from vaccination without prior information could have legal consequences.

How did the thrombosis occur?

In all reported cases, the thromboses were due to an autoimmune reaction. motivated, a so-called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (type II). In this process, antibodies are formed against blood platelets, so-called thrombocytes, often by an external trigger. These are essential for blood clotting in the body.

In the extreme cases reported, their numbers in the body decreased dramatically. They are excessively consumed by the immune reaction, at the same time that the existing platelets clump together, which can cause thrombosis in the meninges, in the great venous vessels of the brain, which in turn can trigger a stroke.

Otherwise, how often does thrombocytopenia occur?

The basic autoimmune reaction to the blood platelets itself can occur especially during medical treatments with heparin. About one to five percent of these patients develop them, and a third develop thrombosis in the body. When heparin is administered, the side effect occurs much more frequently than previously known cases after vaccines. It is often the result of viral illnesses and can be treated.

The dreaded sinus vein thrombosis, on the other hand, occurs very rarely each year with a frequency of three to four per million adults; women are affected in 75 percent of cases. However, a study from the Netherlands assumes a significantly higher frequency, around 13 cases per million people. It is believed that the cause of the gender difference is that taking the pill can promote the appearance. Regarding age, it is mainly the younger people in their 30s who are affected; In many cases, tumors or injuries such as a traumatic brain injury are also the cause.

Have there been similar cases with other Covid vaccines?

Yes. In fact, several dozen comparable cases occurred in the United States as early as January after being vaccinated with the Moderna and Pfizer / Biontech vaccines. There was also at least one death, Dr. Gregory Michael from Florida. The cases were registered in the government’s Vaccine Adverse Event Notification System.

The New York Times reported on this in early February, and a scientific study also appeared in the American Journal of Hematology. Symptoms appeared between one and 23 days after vaccination. Several of those affected have had thrombocytopenia in the past or had low platelet counts in their blood beforehand. The best treatment was a combination of platelet transfusions, corticosteroids, and immunoglobulins.

Thrombocytopenia is also a known side effect of the mumps, measles, and rubella vaccines; the prevalence here is 1: 40,000 and it also occurs in rare cases with chickenpox vaccination. The severity of platelet loss determines the severity of the loss, especially if a cerebral thrombosis occurs.

Can thrombocytopenia also occur with Covid 19 disease?

Yes. A study on patients with Covid-19 in Wuhan, China, described the increased incidence of thrombocytopenia in patients with severe courses of the disease as early as April 2020. The lower the number of platelets present, the greater the probability of death. of the patient.

What are the symptoms of thrombocytopenia?

Those affected in the US had extensive and visible bleeding on the skin, excessive nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or heavy vaginal bleeding. Jens Spahn named signs “severe and persistent headache and punctate skin hemorrhage” in his press conference Monday.

According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute, “People who have received the Covid 19 AstraZeneca vaccine and feel increasingly unwell more than four days after vaccination, for example with severe and persistent headaches or punctate skin bleeding, should seek treatment. doctor immediately. “

Isn’t the pill much more dangerous?

In fact, thrombosis is much more common with the pill. The general secretary of the German Immunology Society, Carsten Watzl, made this comparison, until he stopped on Monday night, as he explained in “Deutschlandfunk”. With respect to normal thromboses, the comparison is not incorrect. However, the suspension of vaccination is now about a special form of thrombosis, triggered by an autoimmune reaction.

as well SPD health politician Karl Lauterbach He said that the thromboses that occur after taking the pill are not comparable in severity to the thromboses that occur now. But those happened much less frequently. Figures from the EMA estimate that 1,100 cases of thrombosis occur in one million women each year due to the pill, while with the AstraZeneca vaccine there were now seven particularly severe cases in one week.

The Health Ministry added Tuesday: “Every woman who receives a prescription for an anti-baby pill should be informed about the risk by the prescribing physician. For the AstraZeneca Covid 19 vaccine, the rare side effect of a sinus vein thrombosis, which can sometimes be fatal, has not yet been included on the patient information sheet, and the state recommended vaccination for people healthy differs from the prescription of a drug. under the drug law. Trust and transparency are always important when prescribing drugs, but especially when it comes to vaccines because they are widely used in healthy people. “

Is the possible side effect a reason not to get vaccinated?

That depends on the individual risk assessment. Various drugs on the market can, in rare or very rare cases, have serious side effects. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac alone can cause gastric bleeding and heart attacks and strokes in two to nine cases per 1,000 patients.

The very effective Novamin used for colic can trigger severe anaphylactic reactions. The side effects of the pill, which is widely used as a contraceptive, are even more extensive. In the case of vaccines, it can be compared with the package insert of the medicine. Anyone not taking medication due to the possible side effects that are listed as “very rare” now could avoid vaccination. Anyone who takes the remedy anyway should not be afraid of vaccination.

What are the consequences of vaccination freezing?

First of all, the entire vaccination campaign is lagging behind, especially if the cases that have occurred with the Moderna and BioNtech vaccines are more selective and a vaccination ban may also be imposed here. In the best case, however, researchers identify potential triggers for thrombocytopenia in vaccines, vary them if necessary or not recommend them to specific people with certain predispositions. For this, however, the relationships need to be investigated more closely.

How are other countries dealing with the cause?

Italy, France and Spain also suspended vaccines against AstraZeneca on Monday. However, France was “caught off guard” by the German decision, as FranceInfo and Politico report, citing government sources.

In fact, they agreed with the federal government to wait for the EMA to be evaluated, but after Germany advanced yesterday, they had to do the same. “We adapt to the (German) line for reasons of European coherence, not for real doubts (about the vaccine),” a ministerial adviser is quoted.

Italy later did the same for similar reasons. “We reached a suspension because several European countries, including Germany and France, preferred to suspend vaccines, […] put them on hold for inspections. The choice is political, ”said Nicola Magrini, Director General of the Italian Medicines Agency, in“ La Repubblica ”.

What about those who have already received a first dose?

The Federal Ministry of Health writes: “Even with a first vaccine, you are well protected against a severe course of infection. There is no danger if you miss the second vaccination. However, if the vaccine is still approved, you should definitely get the second shot. It reinforces the protection many times ”.