Age restrictions on AstraZeneca shot have ended reports of rare clots -UK scientists

No new cases of rare and severe blood clots following vaccination with AstraZeneca's COVID-19 shot have been reported in the UK in recent weeks after a decision to restrict its use in people under the age of 40, scientists said Wednesday, as reported by London South East.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) has been labelled a rare side effect of viral vector COVID vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. 

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that around 85% of those who experienced rare blood clots after vaccination with AstraZeneca's shot in the UK were under 60 even though more of the shots were given to the elderly.

The study found that in those under 50, incidence was around 1 in 50,000, in line with previous estimates. 

Sue Pavord, a consultant haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals who led the research, said an initial spike of cases of the side-effect had subsided as the impact of the UK’s decision to offer people under 40 alternative shots in May filtered through. "We haven't seen new cases for the last four weeks or so and this has been a tremendous relief," she said.

The condition had an overall mortality rate of 23%, but rose to 73% in cases with clots in the brain, however treatments like blood plasma exchange increased the survival rate for severe cases to 90%.