AstraZeneca gives 'strong cellular immunity' says expert
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According to the Government’s latest coronavirus data, 116 million people in the UK have been vaccinated, with 46.4 million having received both doses. Despite millions of Brits having been part of the vaccine uptake, the Office of National Statistics has found being worried about the side effects remains the most common reason for adults in the UK to decline these Covid-19 vaccinations. With fears of blood clots having previously been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, what do you really need to know about the side effects of it?
AstraZeneca side effects
The AstraZeneca vaccine works by stimulating the body’s natural defence against the COVID-19 virus.
Active ingredients in the vaccine cause the body to produce its own antibodies against the virus which offer future protection.
None of the contents of the vaccine can cause you to contract coronavirus through the shot itself.
It is natural for the body to react to the vaccine dose as your body works to develop immunity against the virus.
Some of the most common side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine can include anything from tenderness at the injection site to a lack of energy following your vaccine.
Common side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine
According to The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the most common side effects after the AstraZeneca vaccine are most likely to occur after the first dose.
HSE has found the most common side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine include:
- Feeling tired
- Tenderness, pain or itching in the injected arm
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Nausea
- Fever (temperature of 38 degrees celsius or higher)
Data collected by the HSE have found that these side effects affect on average, one in 10 people who receive the vaccine.
Less common side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine
While still common, the HSE found diarrhoea, vomiting, flu-like illness, a low platelet count, redness around the injected area and pain in the hands and feet can affect one in 100 people who receive the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccination.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has reported the following side effects have also been known to affect around one percent of those who received the AstraZeneca vaccine:
- Feeling dizzy
- Sleepiness and low energy
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Excessive sweating
- Itchy skin or skin rash
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What are the most common adverse reactions to the Covid vaccine?
With all-new vaccines comes the risk of having an adverse reaction as the body is introduced to a new substance.
Fears of rare blood clots caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine have led to debate over the safety of the vaccine.
However, these side effects are extremely rare (affecting less than one in 10,000 people).
The BHF has found having a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine (anaphylaxis) was one of the most common adverse effects – but again this is very rare.
Other symptoms included:
- Blood clots caused by low levels of platelets
- Swelling under the skin (angioedema)
- Capillary leak syndrome (fluid leaking from small blood vessels which lowers blood pressure)
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (the immune system damages nerve cells)
Does AstraZeneca cause blood clots?
In April 2021 it was reported that The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had received 30 reports of blood clots from AstraZeneca recipients in the UK.
Despite being extremely rare, reports of severe blood clots triggered by the vaccine sparked a deeper investigation into the vaccine.
According to the BHF, further reports of clots bring the total to 423 blood clot-related incidences up until October 20, 2021.
However, findings from a study conducted by the University of Oxford have since found having Covid-19 puts you at a much higher risk of developing dangerous blood clots than the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines.
While the research shows the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh the risks, the likelihood of developing clots from the virus are as follows according to the BHF:
- For every 10 million people vaccinated with AstraZeneca, there are 66 extra cases of severe blood clots
- Infection with Covid-19 causes an estimated 12,614 extra cases of blood clots in veins
- Covid causes an estimated 20 extra cases of rare blood clots in the brain
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