COVID-19: Experts Warn on Rare Vaccination Side Effects

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Experts have stressed the need for caution on certain rare side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations in patients which, if not promptly attended to could be life-threatening or even lead to death.

In a paper on various research studies on the effects of the three World Health Organisation (WHO)-approved COVID-19 vaccines, made available to THISDAY in Asaba, Delta State, Dr Nneoma Nwosu said such cautious attitude would not only help prevent serious medical events after taking the vaccines but would help in expanding the frontiers of knowledge with a view to improving on the vaccines.

Nwosu advised patients not to take lightly of certain symptoms of possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccination, noting that such side effects could take the form of headaches and fever during some days following vaccination, and they could lead to death if neglected.

Quoting several post-COVID-19 research findings on the subject, she said that the science and medical experts were concerned about fatalities even after certain vaccines, which were developed and duly approved by WHO, had been administered on the patients.

According to her, the real danger pertains to a situation where blood clot in the artery or vein leads to damage of the brain or an unusually low platelet count leads to prolonged bleeding.

Research has proved that there are some rare but serious post-vaccination events that need serious attention, such as Vaccine-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT). Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms either in an artery or vein. The blood clot if not treated can lead to damage to a portion(s) of the brain.

“On the other hand, Thrombocytopenia is a condition that occurs when the platelet count in the blood becomes too low.

“Platelets are tiny blood cells that are made in the bone marrow from larger cells. Platelets stick together when one is injured to form a plug (blood clot) to prevent further bleeding. When platelets are very low, a person can bleed to death”, Nwosu explained.

She further noted that the researchers discovered that, “generally, symptoms appeared around the third day for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, while for AstraZeneca, symptoms appeared around the ninth day, and headache was the most common symptom. The platelet count was below the lower limit of the normal range. Furthermore, all patients except one were positive for PF4 antibodies (a test performed to detect antibodies that develop in some people who have been treated with heparin).

While stressing the need for further research studies to improve on the vaccines as well as the effective management of post-COVID-19 vaccination side effects and prevention of resultant fatalities, Nwosu advised that patients and doctors must look out for certain symptoms of the side effects.

“The research found that the cerebral venous sinus of the brain was the most affected site. Death was the most common outcome in all studies, except for one study in which most of the patients survived.

“The common takeaway from these studies is that headaches and fevers following COVID-19 vaccination within the first two weeks of vaccination should be taken seriously to rule out VITT.

“There is sufficient evidence to show that COVID-19 vaccination brings along with it some adverse events that are worthy of note as they can be very life-threatening and fatal.”