In very rare cases, blood clots happen to individuals vaccinated with AstraZeneca, when activated white blood cells creating antibodies against the antigen in the vaccine also awaken platelets which assist in the formation of blood clots, says Pacific Community’s Public Health Division senior laboratory adviser Dr Eka Buadromo.
Speaking during a recent Bula ko Lau virtual discussion on COVID-19, Dr Buadromo said when a person was vaccinated with AstraZeneca,
the vaccine carried the weak form of the genetic material of the COVID virus.
“When this weak virus was introduced into the body, it triggered the body’s defence mechanism and Antigen-Presenting Cells (APC) which has the duty of detecting any foreign materials that entered the human body and presenting it to the lymphocytes,” she said.
Due to its spike formations, Dr Buadromo said the cells of the virus attached themselves to an individual’s nose, oesophagus and lungs.
“Once the virus has been presented to the lymphocytes, the white cells began processing antibodies to fight the spiked protein or virus cells.
“During this period and in very rare cases, the white blood cells may awaken platelets which assist in blood coagulation during injuries causing a clot.
“These clots may begin as a thrombus, a small clot in the vascular systems of the body and then increase in size.”
When this happened, Dr Buadromo said, the body had its own enzymes that de-clot such thrombus.
In very rare cases, she said, these mechanisms were not activated while the clot grew and became uncontrollable, blocking the flow of blood and leading to very rare deaths.
