NSW woman ‘dead from blood clots’ after COVID-19 vaccination

A 48-year-old woman who received a COVID-19 vaccination and developed blood clots hours after has died in NSW.

A 48-year-old woman who received a COVID-19 vaccination and developed blood clots hours after has died in NSW.

The woman, from the Central Coast, was vaccinated last Friday and developed blood clots within 24 hours, before being put on dialysis, theDaily Mail reports.

According to the publication, the woman was diabetic but otherwise in good health.

She was placed in an intensive care unit and died yesterday.

A NSW Health spokesperson told news.com.au the department investigates adverse reactions to vaccines, but could not confirm any link between the vaccine and the woman’s death.

The Department of Health told news.com.au it was investigating the woman’s death along with the TGA, but hadn’t yet established a link to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

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A NSW woman that received a COVID-19 vaccination and developed blood clots hours after has died. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“NSW Health does not speculate on or discuss individual cases, but the death of anyone is always a tragedy and our condolences are with the family and loved ones of the person who has passed away,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is responsible for regulating and monitoring the use of COVID-19 vaccines in Australia. Monitoring involves detecting and responding to any emerging safety concerns related to COVID-19 vaccines, particularly any adverse events following immunisation.”

NSW Health said adverse events included “any untoward medical event” that happens after receiving a vaccine.

“NSW Health is notified when a serious or unexpected adverse event occurs. NSW Health investigates these events and refers its expert panel findings to the TGA, which is responsible for assessing causality.

“Many conditions can arise during normal life, whether or not a vaccine is administered, but it remains important to report any new serious or unexpected events so that safety can be appropriately monitored.”

The Department of Health told news.com.au it was investigating the woman’s death along with the TGA, but hadn’t yet established a link to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Department of Health is investigating the woman’s death, and has not yet found a link to AstraZeneca. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins

“The blood clotting disorders being investigated in connection with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are very rare and differ from common blood clots or venous thromboembolism, which occur in around 50 Australians every day.

“The clotting disorder being investigated in connection with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is now referred to as ‘thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome’ (TTS), has been confirmed in only two cases out of over 700,000 people who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia.

“It has not yet been established whether there is any link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the tragic death reported by NSW health officials.

“NSW Health has said there is no confirmed link but further investigations are underway.”

News.com.au has contacted the Therapeutic Goods Administration for a comment.

At least two other cases of the blood clotting, linked to the AstraZeneca jab, have been detected in Australia: one in a Melbourne man and the other in a West Australian woman, plunging the Morrison Government’s rollout into chaos.

Health authorities slapped a warning on the AstraZeneca vaccine – intended to account for most vaccinations across the country – for Australians under 50 late last week.

The vaccine can be used be used in adults under 50 where the benefits “clearly outweigh the risks” and that person has “made an informed decision based on an understanding of the risks and benefits”, according to advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

“It is not a prohibition on the AstraZeneca vaccine, it recommends and notes that the risk of these side effects are remote,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressed after a national cabinet meeting on Friday.

“There was no instruction not to take that vaccine. There is an acknowledgment of the risk that is there, but as is the case always with these matters these are decisions for Australians.”

Australian health regulators and authorities have continued to stress the safety of the jab, and that the benefits of getting vaccinated against coronavirus outweigh “the very small potential risk of a very rare clotting disorder associated with the vaccine”.

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The AstraZeneca vaccine has been increasingly linked to the blood clotting condition overseas. Picture: Oli Scarff/AFP

After the Melbourne man presented with the condition earlier this month, ATAGI issued a warning advising patients who received either of the COVID-19 vaccines to be aware of common side effects which include fever, sore muscles, tiredness and headaches usually 24 hours after the dose.

“The report from overseas of rare clotting disorders have occurred later than this. Between day four and day 20, after vaccination, and have generally caused severe symptoms requiring hospitalisation,” the warning reads.

“People should be particularly alert to severe persistent headaches occurring 4-20 days after vaccination and which are different to the usual pattern of headaches that people may experience at other times and which do not settle with paracetamol or other over the counter painkillers.”