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Several countries have already altered their advice after previous research indicated that, in a tiny number of cases thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) can be a possible side effect of Covid vaccines that use an adenovirus vector, or “engineered” virus, such as those from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Thrombocytopenia produces potentially lifethreatening blood clots with low levels of blood platelets, the small cell fragments in our blood that prevent bleeding.
The new study, published in the journal BMJ, was the first to compare thrombocytopenia rates between adenovirus and mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer across multiple countries.
The international research team analysed health data from more than 10 million adults in France, Germany, the Netherlands,
Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States who received at least one vaccine dose between December 2020 and mid-2021.
In Germany and the UK, they matched the data of 1.3 million people who had a first dose of AstraZeneca to 2.1 million who took Pfizer.
There were a total of 862 “thrombocytopenia events” recorded in the 28 days after a first dose of AstraZeneca, compared to 520 for Pfizer, the study said.
That meant AstraZeneca’s vaccine had a 30-percent higher risk of thrombocytopenia than Pfizer.
However when it came to a second dose, there was no additional risk between any of the vaccines.
The study was observational, meaning it could not show cause and effect. But the researchers said that additional analysis found the results to be consistent.
However both AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson’s vaccines play a pivotal role in Covax global vaccine distribution scheme, which provides doses to lower-income countries.