Rare blood disorder hits IT professional after Covid shot

A ROCKVILLE based cyber security analyst has said that he almost died after getting the Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19.

However, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and vaccine companies suggest it could be just a coincidence.

According to the media reports, Sartaj Singh Dhami, 43, was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder (thrombocytopenia) when he was in his 20s, but it was under control until he was vaccinated for Covid-19.

Thrombocytopenia or ITP is an autoimmune disorder in which one’s antibodies attack one’s own blood platelets and the cells that make platelets.

His health condition became serious two days after he received the virus shot, which left him with blood platelet levels low which may have caused for brain hemorrhage.

In the small number of similar cases that have been reported, doctors are unsure if the vaccine caused the body to react or if it was just a coincidence, the news channel said.

‘You can argue it’s a coincidence. You can argue it’s a fluke. But when it’s your life, it’s very real,’ Dhami was quoted by WUSA9 as saying.

Food and Drug Administration spokesperson Abby Capobianco said, ‘FDA is aware of reports of a serious condition called thrombocytopenia, or low levels of platelets in the blood, occurring in a few individuals following receipt of the authorized Covid-19 vaccines.’

‘Thrombocytopenia can have many different causes. At this time, we are continuing our investigation and assessment of these cases.’

Over 30 days after the crisis, Dhami is still on steroids, but otherwise almost fully recovered. ‘Perfectly fine. I’m happy to report my platelets are normal,’ he told.

Dhami believes the flare up of his rare autoimmune disorder was caused by his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

‘People should take the vaccine. I’m a proponent for the vaccine. But do understand your underlying health conditions,’ Dhami said.

There were several other cases where patients either developed ITP or saw a flare up after vaccination, according to the media reports.

‘Any reports of death following the administration of vaccines are promptly and rigorously investigated jointly by FDA and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention),’ FDA’s Capobianco said.