Rare Blood Disorder Occurs After COVID-19 Vaccination in the US

36 Cases of Thrombocytopenia Reported in the US... Some Patients Died
Similar to Natural Incidence Rate but Possible Link to Vaccine Also Feared

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Concerns have been raised in the United States about a possible link between COVID-19 vaccination and the occurrence of rare blood disorders. Although the U.S. government maintains that there is no cause for concern, this issue is drawing attention as it could increase vaccine hesitancy amid the growing positive public opinion toward vaccination in the country.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 9th (local time), Luz Rigaspi, a resident of New York, was hospitalized and treated after experiencing bleeding in the mouth following COVID-19 vaccination. Gregory Michael, who lives in Miami Beach, was also hospitalized with the same symptoms.

Both showed symptoms of thrombocytopenia, a condition where blood does not clot properly, after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These symptoms appeared 1 to 3 days after vaccination in both individuals. Michael died two weeks later from a cerebral hemorrhage.

The NYT reported that as of the end of January, there have been 36 similar cases reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), operated by the U.S. government.

The NYT noted that these symptoms appeared regardless of the vaccine type, and that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which are investigating the cases, have not yet found evidence that vaccination caused thrombocytopenia.

Authorities have stated that the 36 cases of thrombocytopenia among approximately 31 million vaccinated individuals are at a level consistent with the natural incidence rate.

A health official told the NYT, "Thrombocytopenia may have occurred coincidentally, unrelated to the vaccine," but some experts, citing cases with the measles vaccine, analyzed that the COVID-19 vaccine might have affected the immune system of some patients, leading to platelet destruction.

Hematologist Dr. James Bussel of Weill Cornell Medical College suggested the possibility that the vaccine may have caused thrombocytopenia under certain conditions and pointed out that "further research is needed."

Vaccine manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna have stated that they are carefully monitoring the safety of their vaccines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.