Covid: 30 blood clot cases found in AstraZeneca recipients in the UK

[Emrys]

2. Since most of us in the UK group will have had at least the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine

(see earlier post here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/108820326 ), a little sensitivity when posting about it on this group might be in order. We're on this path, like it or not, and there's already quite enough vaccine scepticism around. And there are some doubts as yet about these findings. Another take from the British Heart Foundation, which describes similar shortcomings in research and gives a bit more context:

Is the Oxford vaccine effective against the South African strain of Covid?

A small study of 2,000 people in South Africa has shown that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine offers minimal protection against mild cases of the South African variant.

The study, which was based people of an average age of 31, shows that protection may be as low as 10%. The research wasn’t able to determine whether it protects against serious illness or hospitalisation, because this group of people were at low risk of serious illness. Other research suggests that the vaccine is still likely to reduce severe cases and deaths from the South African strain. More research is needed in this area.

Oxford University is working on adapting the vaccine to ensure that it protects against this variant, as well as other strains. They have said a ‘booster’ jab could be available by autumn 2021.

There are currently only a small number of cases of the South African variant in the UK, and the government has put measures in place to minimise community spread of this variant.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/covid-variant

It should be noted that the Pfizer vaccine also has uncertain effectiveness against the South African variant and more research is needed. That variant isn't believed to more deadly than the more common variants, but is more transmissible.

As for the clotting issue, it's tragic for those affected, but so is COVID in too many cases. I fancy my chances at 30 or 7 in 18 million more than I do continuing to have no immune protection against it.