AstraZeneca’s vaccine is estimated to have saved a million lives worldwide by providing protection against the coronavirus. But earlier this year it was revealed that there might be a link between the vaccine and serious blood abnormalities. In the Netherlands it was subsequently decided not to use the vaccine anymore.
Vaccine in the bloodstream
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca explains to the BBC that the risk of blood clots is greater after being infected with the corona virus than after a vaccination. Although it is still not entirely clear why the side effect occurs in some cases.
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AstraZeneca’s vaccine consists of genetic material and a common cold virus. It is normally injected into a muscle, but sometimes some of the drug enters the bloodstream. Then there is a chance that it will attract a certain protein in the blood, which in rare cases causes an immune system reaction. That response causes antibodies to attack the injected cold virus, which can lead to the blood clots.
Susceptibility
This probably explains the cause of the serious side effect, but according to the researchers, many steps still need to be taken. For example, it is not yet clear why some people are more susceptible to the side effect than others.
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