20s Woman Vaccinated with AZ Vaccine Diagnosed with Thrombosis in Leg and Lung... Authorities "Monitoring EMA Announcement" (Update)

Breathlessness Symptoms Appear 12 Days After Vaccination
"Discussion Planned Following EMA Announcement on Vaccine-Thrombosis Causality"

On the afternoon of the 15th, medical staff are demonstrating the preparation of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine at the COVID-19 vaccination center set up in the auditorium of Seongdong-gu Office in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] One additional case of thrombosis diagnosed after COVID-19 vaccination has been reported in South Korea. This is the third cumulative case, involving a woman in her 20s who works in a medical institution.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force (hereafter Task Force) on the 7th, the patient received the AstraZeneca vaccine on the 17th of last month and visited a hospital on the 29th, 12 days later, due to symptoms such as shortness of breath. During the examination, thrombosis was confirmed in the lungs and legs, leading to a diagnosis of thrombosis. No thrombosis was found internally elsewhere.

The patient experienced shortness of breath during activities that were usually not difficult for her after vaccination. Over time, symptoms of thrombosis such as swelling in the lower limbs also appeared.

Park Young-jun, head of the Adverse Reaction Investigation Support Team, explained, "The thrombosis was confirmed in the legs and lungs, and no thrombosis was found in the brain area, which is being closely monitored. The patient is currently receiving treatment and is in a better condition than when hospitalized." The Task Force is investigating whether the patient has any underlying diseases.

This patient is the third case in South Korea where thrombosis was confirmed after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. Previously, a man in his 20s was diagnosed with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) after vaccination. The man has since improved and been discharged. There was also a case where thrombosis was found in a man in his 60s who died after vaccination. Although thrombosis was observed during the autopsy, authorities determined it was unrelated to the vaccine.

Meanwhile, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) vaccine chief stated on the 6th (local time) that there is a causal relationship between the AstraZeneca vaccine and thrombosis, and South Korean health authorities are closely monitoring this. They plan to finalize their stance after internal discussions based on the EMA's analysis results, which are expected to be announced within two weeks.

Jo Eun-hee, head of the Post-Vaccination Management Division of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, said, "The EMA meeting, which runs until the 9th, will review related cases further and make an announcement. Based on this, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will discuss with COVID-19 vaccine experts, thrombosis specialists, and the Vaccination Expert Committee to organize and announce their position."

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