The death of a 48-year-old woman in New South Wales is “likely to be linked to vaccination” due to blood clots, as concluded by the federal Vaccine Safety Investigation Group on Friday.
In a statement released on Friday evening, the Therapeutic Goods Administration confirmed its investigation group deemed it was likely the Lake Macquarie woman’s case of blood clots and low platelet count was linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine she had received.
The woman received the jab on April 8, and passed away in hospital four days later.
The investigation explored the potential that clotting and her subsequent death was instead linked to her diabetes or another underlying medical condition, but found there was no other obvious cause for the blood clots or low platelet count.
“VSIG reviewed a report about a 48-year-old woman who was vaccinated in New South Wales and admitted to hospital with an extensive thromboembolic event and thrombocytopenia (TTS) four days after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine,” the statement read.
“The review of this case was complicated by the patient’s underlying medical conditions, including diabetes, some other medical conditions as well as some atypical features.
“Despite the atypical clinical features and the negative antibody test, in the absence of an alternative cause for the clinical syndrome, VSIG believed that a causative link to vaccination should be assumed at this time.”
The deceased woman is the third person to have developed blood clotting in the days after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, but the TGA confirmed the other two patients are making a good recovery after treatment.
The statement also noted that an autopsy report is due to be conducted from Monday, and lab results are also currently being processed. If the report and results determines an alternative cause for the clots and her death, the TGA will then revise its findings and update its conclusion.
