At 11 o’clock on Saturday, Norwegian medical researchers held a digital press conference. The theme was found about association between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the serious adverse reactions which has been seen in Norwegian patients.
– We have demonstrated a high probability of connection [mellom AstraZeneca-vaksinen og sykdomsbildet], says the research team’s leader, chief physician and professor Pål André Holme at Oslo University Hospital (OUS).
“We have never seen such high levels.”
Ingvild Hausberg Sørvoll, chief physician at UNN
– Direct cause
The study – a collaborative project between OUS and the University Hospital of Northern Norway (UNN) – is published in a prestigious The New England Journal of Medicine, and demonstrates a link between the controversial vaccine and the observed unusual and serious disease, with blood clots, low platelets and bleeding.
– Would be very, very sad
In Norway, six people have been diagnosed with the condition, four have died. AstraZeneca is currently on hold, pending further data.
The study operates with five patients and three dead, as it is not entirely certain whether a deceased vaccinated health worker on Tynset to be reckoned with.
– Common in all patients was a very high level of antibodies against platelets (platelets). We believe it is a direct cause of a strong immune reaction, says Holme.
Holme has previously stated that he assumes the disease picture in the patients in question due to a strong reaction in the immune system, which has caused blood clots, low platelets and bleeding, through the formation of antibodies.
– Fatal outcome
When asked by Dagbladet about how serious the Norwegian team’s findings are, Holme answers:
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– The findings are extremely serious. I can not imagine more serious side effects – they have had fatal outcomes, and three out of five are dead, the superior answers.
When asked what the team thinks should happen with the AstraZeneca program in Norway, the answer is that they leave the decision to the National Institute of Public Health and the Norwegian Medicines Agency.
Chief physician Ingvild Hausberg Sørvoll at UNN says her team quickly knew what to do when they were given the assignment, due to previous experiences.
– We could be one of the first in the world to start the tests, she says.
– Sky high level
The superior explains that they performed two tests: the first was to detect the antibodies; the other was to find out if they were dangerous.
EMA: Link between blood clots and AstraZeneca
– It is not uncommon to walk around with antibodies, but usually they do not have the ability to clot the blood, she says.
Already at the first test, the researchers came across startling findings.
– We found a sky-high level of antibodies – we have never seen such high levels, in the literature such levels have never been described in connection with vaccination before, says Sørvoll.
She goes on to say that the second test “clearly” showed that the antibodies can cause plate activation and clumping.
– It was very lucky that we could get on the field quickly, she states.
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