COVID-19 vaccination and very rare blood clotting

Posted on April 12th, 2021

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COVID-19 vaccination and very rare blood clotting

Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. Although this condition remains extremely rare (around 4 people develop the condition for every million AZ doses given) there appears to be a higher risk in people shortly after the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine has been very successful with more than 30 million people vaccinated and more than 6,000 lives already saved. The vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus and reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or clotting problems, have been very rare.

Further information

Information about the AstraZeneca vaccine can be found on the .GOV website

Public Health England leaflets:

PHE COVID-19 AZ Vaccination Guide

PHE COVID-19 What to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination

PHE_COVID-19_Phase_2_Vaccination_Guide_V4

Over 50 years of age or with underlying medical conditions
The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
If your first dose was with AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should have the second dose on time as you may still be at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. Having the second dose will give you higher and longer lasting protection.

If you are a healthy person over 30 to 50 years of age
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.

If you are a healthy younger person aged 18 to 29 (inc staff members and carers)
The MHRA and the JCVI continue to monitor the benefits and safety of the AZ vaccine in younger people. You will be offered the vaccine available at the time and should carefully consider the risk to both you and your family and friends of COVID-19 before making a decision.
Currently JCVI has advised that it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AZ. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait or travel to a different PCN site or Clatterbridge, due to vaccine availability. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you.

What about the second dose?
If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppresse