AstraZeneca blood clots: Scientists may have found out what causes the side effect – study
At the start of 2021, there were a small number of blood clot-related deaths linked to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. In the aftermath, the jab was withdrawn from use on young people who thereafter predominantly received the Pfizer vaccine. Earlier this month, a team of scientists from Cardiff and the US found out why the vaccine was causing these blood clots. The chain reaction happened in three stages.
The first stage, after the vaccine was administered was that the vaccine attracted a protein in the blood called platelet factor 4.
In the second stage, this caused a rare reaction where the immune system mistakenly thought platelet factor 4 was the virus and released antibodies to attack it.
In the third stage, these antibodies grouped together with the platelet factor 4, resulting in blood clots.
Scientists who took part in the study believe that the genesis of the fault begins with the adenovirus.
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The adenovirus is what delivers the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Responding to the research, AstraZeneca, who also took part in the investigation, says that the results are not final.
Of the 50 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine administered in the UK, there have been 73 cases of clots.
Despite the deaths, the AstraZeneca vaccine is rumoured to have saved around 1,000,000 lives.
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Recently, the decision to accelerate the booster programme.
This has been controversial as the Government has been encouraged to bring back stricter measures on gatherings and social distancing.
Instead, their main winter weapon of choice is the booster programme, a move that will be crucial ahead of a difficult winter for many.
Amidst this was good news for young people eager to get vaccinated.
What’s next for the AstraZeneca vaccine?
The Cardiff end of the team say they hope their research can be used to improve vaccines that also use the adenovirus.
The vaccine continues to be administered alongside the Pfizer and Moderna jabs; each part of the fight to prevent another lockdown.
Something that seems ever more likely if case numbers, hospital admissions and sadly deaths, continue to rise.
Source: | This article first appeared on Express.co.uk