Following reports of an extremely rare and specific blood clot after vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) confirmed on 7 April 2021 that this type of blood clot with low platelets (sticky cells) are a possible side effect of the vaccine. However, they continue to advise that the benefits of vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine continue to outweigh the risks of COVID-19 for the vast majority of adults.
Public Health Wales is aware of one confirmed case of this extremely rare type of clot in Wales after receiving AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine among over 1 million people who have received that vaccine.
The expert scientific advice from the JCVI is that risk benefit remains strongly in favour of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine for those aged 30 and over, and those aged under 30 who have underlying health conditions which puts them at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 infection.
However, JCVI advise that adults aged 18-29 years old who do not have underlying health conditions should be offered an alternative vaccine balancing risks and benefits. Health Boards in Wales will be offering alternative vaccines to this group, while continuing to offer all available vaccines at all other ages.
Those who have received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine irrespective of age, should continue to receive a second dose. To date there have been no confirmed cases of the extremely rare and specific blood clots after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.
Thank you.
