A new study published by the British Medical Journal has cleared up some facts surrounding the Covid-19 vaccine and blood clots.
Reports in recent months have tied the jab to patients who were discovering blood clots in their systems and had been the reason for much apprehension in some people around getting their vaccination.
Research conducted by health professionals has now found that the risk of developing a blood clot is far higher in those who actually contract the virus than they are in people who receive a dose of the available vaccines.
The study specifically speaks about the chance of a clot forming and says it's “substantially higher and more prolonged after SARS-CoV-2 infection than after vaccination in the same population”.
More than 29 million people involved were vaccinated with first doses - 19.6 million with AstraZeneca and 9.5 million with Pfizer - while another 1.7 million people who tested positive for Covid were also monitored.
The scientists involved in this trial revealed the results of their research, which show a vast difference in the number of people, per 10 million, who would need to be treated for clots.
Out of those who had received the AstraZeneca vaccine there would be:
- 107 cases of thrombocytopenia, which can cause internal bleeding
- 66 cases of blood clots in the veins
For anyone who opts for the Pfizer vaccine, the stats show there would be:
- 143 cases of stroke
With Covid-19 patients, in 10 million cases there would be:
- 934 cases of thrombocytopenia
- 12,614 cases of blood clots
- 1,699 cases of stroke
The results are a “reassuring” outcome according to Professor of Clinical Epidemiology & GP at University of Oxford, Julia Hippisley-Cox, who was the co-lead on the study.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “These are really reassuring results, in fact, to underscore the safety and benefits of the vaccine compared with the risk of getting an infection.
“For most, benefits far outweigh the risk of these rare adverse events; however, this balance will vary across specific subgroups (for example, based on age) and will also vary with population infection rates.”
