Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has responded after reports a Brisbane man was hospitalised with blood clots days after getting the COVID vaccine.
Pfizer has responded after a Brisbane man was hospitalised with blood clots just days after receiving the pharmaceutical giant’s COVID vaccine.
The 40-year-old, who works as a police officer in a quarantine hotel, presented at a private hospital on Wednesday suffering clots, after being jabbed on Sunday.
It was later revealed the man had also recently undergone knee surgery, which is believed to be the more likely cause of the blood clots.
In a statement, Pfizer said they had conducted a “comprehensive assessment of ongoing aggregate safety data” for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, of which 200 million doses have been administered across the globe.
“(This has) provided no evidence to conclude that arterial or venous thromboembolic events (blood clots), with or without thrombocytopenia, are a risk associated with the use of our COVID-19 vaccine,” the company said.
“This safety database analysis included a review of all adverse events received for the vaccine through to March 27,2021.
“Pfizer considers that the benefit-risk profile of (the vaccine) in preventing COVID-19 remains positive.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration and Queensland Health are investigating the case.
To date, Australia has recorded three cases of blood clotting linked to the AstraZeneva vaccine, which led the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to change its guidance for people under 50, with a preference for Pfizer.
AUSTRALIA’S VACCINE SUPPLY SAGA
September 7, 2020: Contracts signed for CSL to produce 50 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in Melbourne
September 9: Contract signed with AstraZeneca for 3.8 million doses to be delivered to Australia in January and February from offshore
November 5: Contract signed with Pfizer for 10 million doses from overseas
January 17, 2021: Supply issues force AstraZeneca to revise offshore delivery plan to 1.2 million doses
January 29: European Commission puts in place controls requiring member states to authorise the export of vaccine supplies outside of Europe
Early February: AstraZeneca applies for release of 500,000 doses manufactured in Italy
February 4: Contract signed with Pfizer for another 10 million doses from overseas
February 15: 142,000 Pfizer doses arrive from overseas
February 19: Health Minister Greg Hunt calls European counterpart to lobby for AstraZeneca doses to be released
February 20: AstraZeneca advised by EC to withdraw application and submit revised application for 250,000 doses. EC president Ursula von der Leyen tells Prime Minister Scott Morrison that 500,000 doses would not be approved
February 22: 166,000 Pfizer doses arrive from overseas. Deliveries continue each week
February 27: Italy recommends the EC deny export of 250,000 doses to Australia
February 28: 300,000 AstraZeneca doses arrive, but from outside of Europe
March 3: Export of 250,000 AstraZeneca doses from Europe to Australia is denied. Hunt calls European counterpart to advocate for release
Early March: Another 400,000 AstraZeneca doses land in Australia from a country outside of Europe
March 15: Hunt writes to European counterpart to seek review of export denial
March 17: Morrison asks von der Leyen for one million AstraZeneca doses to be released to help Papua New Guinea. PM still has not received a response
March 22: Hunt asks AstraZeneca to resubmit its export application to the EC
March 24: CSL releases 830,000 AstraZeneca doses made in Melbourne, with another 2.5 million awaiting final testing and approvals
Late March/early April: Another 470,000 doses released by CSL in Melbourne
Yesterday: EC says it blocked only one order of 250,000 doses in March. Hunt will ask AstraZeneca to resubmit application for remaining 3.1 million doses to be exported
Later this week: 470,000 doses will be released by CSL
Next week: 480,000 CSL doses to come early in the week, then 670,000 later in the week
Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles said on Wednesday that medical authorities would look to see whether any possible link could be established, and what that would mean for the vaccine rollout.
“What people should be very confident in, though, is our medical authorities are keen to investigate any such incident and provide information and data nationally and internationally,” Mr Miles said.
A Department of Health spokesperson said they took all reports of adverse reactions “very seriously”, and are reviewed through the “appropriate channels”.
“The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has rigorous safety standards and monitors the safety of all vaccines supplied in Australia. The TGA has robust procedures to quickly detect, investigate and respond to potential safety issues if they arise,” the spokesperson said.
Source: news.com.au
