Mum’s clot death ‘likely caused by Covid vaccine’
A ‘FIT and healthy’ mum-of-two died from a blood clot ‘likely’ to have been caused by the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, an inquest has heard.
Michelle Barlow, 51, began suffering headaches and nausea about a week after receiving her first dose of the jab back in March.
She was admitted to hospital and died on March 23.
Senior coroner Timothy Brennand heard that Mrs Barlow, who worked as a civil servant for the Department of Work and Pensions for 34 years, had suffered blood clots likely to have been caused by the vaccine.
An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court heard the condition was a ‘very rare’ side-effect to the AstraZeneca
vaccine. Michelle, a mother-of-two from Orrell in Wigan, received her first dose of the vaccine on March 7.
Michelle’s husband, Ian, told the hearing that in the days that followed, she began to experience ‘flu-like symptoms,’ and later developed headaches, diarrhoea and nausea. By March 19, Mrs Barlow’s symptoms had become ‘overwhelming’ so she sought help at Wigan Infirmary.
Doctors carried out tests, which showed she had a ‘very low’ blood platelet count. She was discharged and told to return for a check-up the following week.
However, Mrs Barlow’s condition failed to improve and she was readmitted to hospital the next day.
Doctors suspected she had a gastroenteritis infection but her condition deteriorated, the inquest heard.
Pathologist Dr Naveen Sharma gave her cause of death as ‘multiorgan failure as a consequence of pulmonary embolism.’
He said there was likely a ‘causative link’ between the blood clot in Mrs Barlow’s lungs and the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Dr Sharma said the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had this month produced guidance suggesting a possible link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and the ‘very rare’ side effect of blood clots.
Paying tribute to his wife, Ian Barlow said: “She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She was nothing short of perfect.”
He added: “She was fit and healthy. There was nothing wrong with her.”
Senior coroner Timothy Brennand said he will give his conclusions at the inquest today.