Direct healthcare professional communication (DHPC) has been published today on the risk of thrombocytopenia and coagulation disorders with the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
You can find the full text of the DHPC in the following link:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/dhpc/direct-healthcare-professional-communication-dhpc-covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-risk-thrombocytopenia_en.pdf
It contains important information for healthcare professionals prescribing, dispensing or administering this vaccine. As noted in the DHPC:
· Benefits of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca outweigh the risks despite possible link to very rare blood clots with low blood platelets.
· A combination of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia, in some cases accompanied by bleeding, has been observed very rarely following vaccination with COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca.
· Healthcare professionals should be alert to the signs and symptoms of thromboembolism and or thrombocytopenia.
· Those vaccinated should be instructed to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain following vaccination. Additionally, anyone with neurological symptoms including severe or persistent headaches and blurred vision after vaccination, or who experiences skin bruising (petechia) beyond the site of vaccination after a few days, should seek prompt medical attention.
We would be grateful if you could further disseminate this information within your networks.
With kind regards,
Nathalie Macle
Public and Stakeholders Engagement Department
Stakeholders and Communication Division
European Medicines Agency
Domenico Scarlattilaan 6 | 1083 HS Amsterdam | The Netherlands
StakeholdersDB@ema.europa.eu / www.ema.europa.eu
