First Causality Recognition of 'Rare Thrombosis' Death in 30s After AZ Vaccination... "Will Establish Early Diagnosis System" (Comprehensive)

If Persistent Headache, Vomiting, or Blurred Vision Occur 4 Days to 4 Weeks After AZ or Janssen Vaccination, Seek Medical Attention Immediately

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government has officially recognized the causal relationship between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and the death of a man in his 30s due to 'rare thrombosis.' This is the first death case in South Korea where causality has been acknowledged since the start of COVID-19 vaccinations.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the 21st, the Adverse Event Investigation Committee (Chairman Professor Kim Joong-gon) held the 17th and 18th committee meetings on the 16th and 18th, respectively, and reviewed 54 new cases (12 deaths, 42 severe cases) and 18 suspected anaphylaxis cases, concluding this judgment.

The man received a leftover AstraZeneca vaccine on the 27th of last month, and on the 5th of this month, he experienced severe headaches and vomiting, prompting him to visit a medical institution for treatment. Subsequently, his consciousness deteriorated, and he was transferred to a higher-level hospital on the 8th, but he passed away on the 16th while receiving treatment.

Park Young-jun, head of the Adverse Reaction Investigation Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, explained, "In the case of the man in his 30s who died from thrombocytopenic thrombosis, a thorough investigation was conducted again, and after the Adverse Event Investigation Committee's review last Friday, causality was finally recognized. It was regrettably mentioned that suspicion regarding thrombocytopenic thrombosis might have been delayed due to nonspecific symptoms such as headache and vomiting during the process."

Medical institutions treating patients with adverse reactions must promptly report adverse events

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Promotion Team stated that after receiving adenovirus vector COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, Janssen), if symptoms such as persistent headache, headache unresponsive or uncontrolled by painkillers, vomiting accompanied by blurred vision, difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent abdominal pain, swelling of arms or legs, or bruising and bleeding in areas other than the injection site appear between 4 days and 4 weeks, immediate medical consultation is necessary. Medical institutions treating such patients must promptly report the adverse events.

Team leader Park said, "We continuously guide all vaccine recipients and medical institutions to seek early diagnosis and treatment if suspicious symptoms appear after adenovirus vector vaccination, and we are also improving the system to prevent any omissions. We plan to establish a system that allows early suspicion and diagnosis as soon as possible."

Additionally, regarding the presumed causes of death, after comprehensively reviewing the influence of underlying diseases and vaccination, 9 cases were evaluated as difficult to recognize a causal relationship between vaccination and death.

Acute cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction, which accounted for a significant portion of the presumed causes, were considered more likely caused by underlying risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and old age rather than vaccination, and causality was not recognized.

Two cases on hold were decided to be re-discussed after supplementing additional data such as medical records.

The average age of the 12 new death cases was 70.5 years, with 9 (75%) having underlying diseases. The vaccines received were Pfizer for 6, AstraZeneca for 5, and Janssen for 1.

The average age of the 42 new severe cases was 76 years, with 38 (90.4%) having underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and dementia. The average time from vaccination to symptom onset was 7.6 days. The vaccines received were Pfizer for 34 and AstraZeneca for 8.

The Adverse Event Investigation Committee comprehensively reviewed the influence of underlying diseases and vaccination on the estimated diagnoses of the 42 severe cases and evaluated that 41 cases were difficult to recognize a causal relationship with COVID-19 vaccination. One case on hold was decided to be re-discussed after supplementing additional data such as medical records.

Meanwhile, among the two cases re-reviewed at the 17th meeting, one case (a man in his 70s vaccinated with Pfizer) was added as a case with insufficient evidence of causality, bringing the total to 8 cases classified as having unclear causality. Among the 18 new suspected anaphylaxis cases, causality was recognized in 9 cases.

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