AstraZeneca's COVID Vaccine Linked To Another Blood Clotting Disorder, All You Need To Know

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for AstraZeneca as a new study has claimed that its COVID-19 vaccine raises the risk of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (VITT) - a rare but fatal blood clotting disorder. The study, conducted by researchers at Flinders University in Australia, found the presence of PF4 antibodies, which were previously red-flagged by scientists from Canada, North America, Germany, and Italy in 2023.

Vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis

"An unusually dangerous blood autoantibody directed against a protein termed platelet factor 4 (or PF4)" was identified as the reason for VITT.

Also read: Mixing AstraZeneca And Pfizer Covid Vaccines Gives Good Protection

They found that the PF4 antibodies in both adenovirus infection-associated VITT and classic adenoviral vector VITT share identical molecular fingerprints or signatures. "Indeed, the pathways of lethal antibody production in these disorders must be virtually identical and have similar genetic risk factors," said Professor Tom Gordon from Flinders.

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AstraZeneca admits side-effect

The researcher noted that the "findings have important clinical implications, as lessons learned from VITT are applicable to rare cases of blood clotting after adenovirus (a common cold) infections, as well as having implications for vaccine development".

The findings come close on the heels of AstraZeneca admitting in a UK court that its COVID vaccine "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS".

Also read: Blood Clots From AstraZeneca COVID Jab Could Be Serious Than Initially Thought

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Vaccine trial participant sues AstraZeneca

Meanwhile, there is more bad news for the pharma giant as a woman who was part of the clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine in the US is suing the drugmaker, claiming that she developed a severe neurological condition from it.

42-year-old Brianne Dressen, a former teacher, said that she developed side effects just hours after being injected with the vaccine. Dressen claimed that she experienced a severe sensation of pins and needles across her body shortly after she received the jab in November 2020 and has been left unable to work after being diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy - a condition that causes numbness and pain due to damaged nerves.

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