What are the risks for those who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine (1 / 2)

The deaths have been linked to a very rare condition known as  thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) , which causes potentially fatal blood clots to develop in various parts of the body. This risk appears to be higher among people under 60, particularly young women.

The exact cause of this  adverse reaction  is still under investigation, but it appears that the adenovirus in the vaccine may accidentally bind to a small protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4), triggering an immune response that leads to the formation of blood clots. It’s important to note, however, that the risk of TTS is significantly lower than the risk of developing clots from COVID-19 infection itself.

A 2021 study found that the number of  TTS cases  caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine was much lower than the number of blood clots resulting from COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, the research showed that the risk of TTS was lower after the second dose of the vaccine than after the first, and that serious side effects occurred relatively quickly after administration. Despite these risks, experts agree that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the  associated risks .