Latvian State Agency of Medicines (ZVA) has looked into 22 reports of people’s deaths shortly after Covid-19 vaccination. In 21 of those cases experts found to possible link to vaccination. However, one death can, to a reasonable extent, be linked to the use of AstraZeneca vaccine, as reported by ZVA Public Relations Office lead Dita Okmane.
After looking at this case, ZVA concluded that «the changes uncovered in the post-mortem examination revealed that the possibility of a link to the use of AstraZeneca is believable». In this case a rare side-effect from AstraZeneca vaccine was found – thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
The deceased was a person in the age group 55 to 60 years. This person underwent Covid-19 vaccination in April 2021. The person died on the seventh day after receiving the first Covid-19 vaccine jab with AstraZeneca vaccine. The death report was received by ZVA on 21 July.
According to ZVA, TTS is a very rare side-effect observed only for virus vector vaccines (and Johnson&Johnson vaccine Janssen).
This side-effect is observed together with bleeding and most often appears within three weeks following vaccination.
TTS is listed as a possible side-effect in the guidelines accompanying vaccines and medicines. TTS is not listed as a side-effect for Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty or Moderna, which are both mRNA type vaccines.
ZVA explains that TTS is very different to the normal thrombosis and always includes thrombocytopenia or reduced concentration of thrombocytes in the blood. The common condition of thrombosis without thrombocytopenia is not the same as TTS as a side-effect of Covid-19 vaccination.
ZVA looked at all available information when investigating this case, including the person’s medical history, information from the Emergency Medical Service, the person’s family doctor, the National Health Service (medicine used in treatment and medical examinations performed), etc. ZVA performed the investigation based on scientific methods and requirements of the EU and medicine safety monitoring criteria standardized by the World Health Organisation.
The first time the European Medicines Agency reported TTS as a side-effect of AstraZeneca vaccine to ZVA, vaccination specialists and residents was 19 March 2021. Relevant information and guidelines were sent to vaccination specialists, healthcare specialists and it was included in the Vaccination Handbook. ZVA reminds that residents who undergo vaccination using a virus vector vaccine should follow the state of their health for three weeks after the jab. If residents observe shortage of breath, pain in the chest, pain in the legs, pain in the stomach, spontaneous bleeding or subcutaneous bleeding. They should immediately seek medical assistance.
EMA and ZVA stress the importance of getting immediate medical assistance in the event of TTS. «It is highly important to remember that people who are diagnosed with TTS within three weeks of receiving a jab with AstraZeneca vaccine should be observed actively to make sure there are no signs of thrombosis,» as mentioned in a statement from ZVA.
AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was approved for use in the EU on 29 January 2021. Like other vaccines, it is used to prevent Covid-19 infection, which can cause very serious health problems or even death. However, in Latvia demand for this vaccine has been very low recently, to the point of use of this vaccine becoming basically non-existent.
ZVA: one post-vaccination death may be linked to use of AstraZeneca vaccine
