Probe into paralysing illness after vaccine

“A possible link between Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine remains under investigation in Australia and internationally,” the TGA said.

“As of 19 May 2021, we have received eight reports of GBS in patients vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

“The TGA continues to monitor and investigate Australian adverse event reports for GBS.”

GBS is a rare immune system disorder that causes nerve inflammation and can result in severe pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking.

The disorder often resolves within a few months, with more severe cases taking up to two years, and some people with the illness can experience paralysis.

Special blood treatments can help relieve symptoms and physiotherapy is needed during the recovery process.

The TGA’s COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report also revealed six new cases of blood clots and low blood platelets were likely to be linked to the vaccine.

“Three are newly reported confirmed cases – one in a 57-year-old woman from Victoria, one in a 53-year-old man from South Australia and the final case in an 18-year-old woman in Queensland,” the report said.

“Review of an earlier case in a 79-year-old Victorian man has now been confirmed as meeting the diagnostic criteria.

“Two other new cases, in an 87-year-old woman from South Australia and a 71-year-old woman from Victoria, were deemed probably related to the vaccine, but more clinical information is required for any confirmations to be made.”

The TGA maintains that reporting rates of blood clotting in Australia were “consistent with what is being seen internationally”.

Last week, the TGA suggested a “higher proportion of less severe cases may be being reported in Australia”.

“This may be due to high levels of awareness in the community and among the medical profession around TTS along with less strain on the healthcare system around COVID infections with much lower infection rates than internationally,” the organisation said.

SA chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier confirmed the case in the 53-year-old man and told reporters he was receiving treatment in intensive care.

The man had his first dose of the vaccine on May 4 and was admitted to hospital on May 18 with severe abdominal pain.

Professor Spurrier said the syndrome linked to the vaccine could occur between four to 20 days after getting the jab.

She advised people who received AstraZeneca to monitor for symptoms like severe headaches or abdominal pains.

Earlier this week it was revealed a trainee nurse had suffered blood clots after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Ellie Peacock, 18, received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on March 31, a week before the government declared people younger than 50 would no longer be given the AstraZeneca jab due to blood clot concerns.

The trainee nurse worked with a team that was regularly exposed to potential COVID-19 positive patients, meaning she was given priority to roll up her sleeve.

More than two weeks after she received the vaccine, Ms Royal turned up at Brisbane Women’s Hospital emergency room with throbbing and tightness in her calf, which she said were “signs of clotting”.

She had an ultrasound which failed to identify any blood clots and was sent home.

The Queensland woman then started to experience regular and painful headaches which she continued to ignore until she experienced severe pain near her collar bone when breathing in.

Ms Peacock went back to hospital, got an x-ray and was told she had pneumonia. She was then sent home again.

A few days later her GP discovered that her oxygen levels had dropped by 90 per cent.

“After persisting for further testing, they finally found three blood clots in one lung,” she wrote on Instagram.

“This experience has been terrifying and overwhelming but I’m on the mend. Now to focus on my health for the next six months.”