What side effects does the AstraZeneca vaccine have? Thrombosis is not one of them

Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania for deaths caused by severe thrombi. A symptom that is not contemplated among the side effects of the vaccine. Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended “continuing to administer” the AstraZeneca vaccine against the coronavirus.

Two batches of the AstraZeneca vaccine are under study in two European countries

The first European country to report a death from thrombosis was Austria, which on Tuesday of this week suspended the distribution and administration of the ABV5300 lot of the vaccine after it received two reports of serious adverse events. Specifically, a nurse who received the dose died of severe coagulation disorders. In addition, there was another colleague who also had to be hospitalized for a pulmonary embolism.

In the same vein, the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) reported this Thursday that it has temporarily suspended vaccination with another batch from the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca as a precaution, following reports of coagulation problems diagnosed in several European countries. Specifically, it has blocked the inoculation of the doses of batch ABV2856 while waiting for the samples from this batch to be analyzed by the Italian National Institute of Health.

Here, in Spain, Health has ensured that there have been no adverse events such as the one that occurred in Austria in temporal relation to the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Along the same lines, the EMA’s safety committee (PRAC), which met this Thursday to review all cases of thromboembolic events, concluded that, for the moment, “there are no indications that vaccination has caused these conditions, which They are not listed as side effects of this vaccine.”

What side effects does the AstraZeneca vaccine have: thrombosis is not one of them

The document prepared by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) explains that the most frequently reported adverse reactions were: injection site tenderness (63.7%), injection site pain (54.2% ), headache (52.6%), fatigue (53.1%), myalgia (44.0%), malaise (44.2%), pyrexia (includes feeling of fever (33.6%) and fever over 38°C (7.9%)), chills (31.9%), arthralgia (26.4%), and nausea (21.9%).

Furthermore, it indicates that most adverse reactions were mild to moderate in intensity and generally resolved within a few days of vaccination. And, compared to the first dose, the adverse reactions reported after the second dose were milder and less frequently reported. He also collects that the side effects occur mostly among those under 65 years of age.

Other side effects that this document considers in the infrequent section are swollen lymph nodes, hyperhidrosis, pruritus, rash, vomiting, and diarrhea.

How to combat the side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine

All vaccines have side effects, most of them mild and related to general malaise and crazy pain that last for a few days. Thus, they should not be treated specifically. However, the Ministry of Health did make a specific mention of the treatment of adverse reactions from the AstraZeneca vaccine, since it recommended taking one gram of Paracetamol before vaccination and afterwards, at a frequency of every 6 hours for the following 24 hours. .

AstraZeneca Vaccine Warnings and Precautions

The EMA contemplates in the published document that in the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine a series of warnings and precautions must be taken into account. Thus, he recommends that patients talk to their doctor if they suffer or have suffered any of the following situations.

1. If you have ever had a severe allergic reaction after being injected with any other vaccine. These allergic reactions occur within a few minutes of administration, which has not happened in cases of thrombosis.

2. If you have ever passed out after any needle injection;

3. If you have a severe infection with fever (above 38°C).

4. If you have a bleeding or bruising problem, or if you are taking anticoagulant medicine (to prevent blood clots).

At this point, the document explains that “as with other intramuscular injections, the vaccine should be administered with caution in individuals receiving anticoagulant treatment or those with thrombocytopenia or a coagulation disorder (such as haemophilia), since bleeding could occur.” or bruising after intramuscular administration in these people”.

5. If your immune system does not work properly (immunodeficiency) or you are taking medicines that weaken the immune system (such as high doses of corticosteroids, immunosuppressants or cancer medicines).